The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an umbilical hernia and determined that new evidence submitted since the last denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Board also found that the preexisting umbilical hernia did not worsen during active duty.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's umbilical hernia was noted upon entry into service and had existed prior to service, thus it could not be considered a service-connected disability. However, the Board also determined that there was no evidence of aggravation beyond its natural progression during service.
- Claimed conditions
- umbilical hernia
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2018
- Citation
- 1816890
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1816890.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 claims for increased ratings and initial disability ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the right lower extremity and left lower extremity, and a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the left upper extremity (minor).
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied as there was no current evidence of the claimed conditions, or they did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an umbilical hernia, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his military service and the condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia, deviated septum, left shoulder condition, umbilical hernia, and left upper extremity radiculopathy as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.
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