The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a ventral hernia, increased ratings for lumbar disc disease and bronchitis, and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.
The deciding factor: The veteran failed to appear for scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.
- Claimed conditions
- ventral hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 18, 2002
- Citation
- 0214580
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0214580.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his back and associated radiculopathy disabilities, which require assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, transferring, housekeeping, and meal preparation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to compensable ratings for the service-connected spine and hernia disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA standards.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus and ventral hernia were granted service connection effective October 1, 2022.
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