The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected status post external urethrotomy and urethroplasty, plastic reconstruction of urethra, and urethral fistula from September 26, 2001 onwards. The previous ratings were reduced to noncompensable as of September 1, 2000, and increased to 20 percent as of January 4, 2001, and 40 percent as of September 25, 2001.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show that the veteran needed to change absorbent materials more than four times per day or had multiple urethroperineal fistulae during the period in question.
- Claimed conditions
- urethrotomy, urethroplasty, fistula of urethra
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2002
- Citation
- 0217809
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 0217809.
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: Granted
The Veteran's urinary disability was incurred in service and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his service, including his in-service chlamydia infection. Service connection for a urinary disability is granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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