The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 3, 1997, for the award of service connection for postoperative scar, right inguinal hernia repair is denied. The RO granted service connection for this condition on September 3, 1997.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim prior to September 3, 1997, and the earliest possible effective date was assigned based on his receipt of his original claim that day.
- Claimed conditions
- postoperative scar, right inguinal hernia repair, adjustment disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder, right inguinal hernia repair
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2015
- Citation
- 1544459
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 1544459.
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: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran died while his appeal was pending.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding no evidence of a current disability to support these claims.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for right inguinal hernia repair, painful surgical scar, and surgical scar.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right inguinal hernia repair, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), neck disability, hypertension, hemorrhoids, mild renal insufficiency (claimed as renal failure), colitis, and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations.
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