The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his postoperative hiatal hernia and ventral hernia, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The veteran's symptoms of epigastric pain, pyrosis, nausea, very slow swallowing, but without hematemesis, melena, moderate anemia or severe impairment of health have been consistent with a 30 percent evaluation for hiatal hernia and a 20 percent evaluation for ventral hernia.
- Claimed conditions
- Postoperative hiatal hernia, Postoperative ventral hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 18, 2008
- Citation
- 0823954
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 0823954.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for postoperative hiatal hernia with abdominal scar, painful umbilical hernia scar, and an acquired psychiatric condition. The issues of angina and heart problems are also being deferred due to their dependency on the outcome of the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric condition.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claims as they are not in appellate status.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted increased evaluations for postoperative ventral hernia, postoperative adhesions of the peritoneum, onychomycosis of the toes, and sleep apnea syndrome. The appellant's claims are now rated at their maximum levels.
- 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.
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