The Board found that the Veteran's incisional hernia was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The Board concluded there is no indication of an event not reasonably foreseeable.
The deciding factor: The May 2011 VA examiner opined that the risk of incisional hernia when a midline abdominal incision is made is not unforeseeable and that the Veteran's hernia did not result from carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of the attending VA personnel.
- Claimed conditions
- incisional hernia, appendectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2018
- Citation
- 1823465
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 1823465.
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 claim for service connection for abdominal scars was implicitly denied in the August 1994 rating decision, as her surgeries were already addressed and rated under different diagnostic codes.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of painful or tender abdominal scars associated with Crohn's disease, status-post ileocecal resection, appendectomy, and diverticulitis is dismissed as a freestanding earlier effective date claim.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of abdominal injury, finding that no valid claim was filed before March 3, 1978.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to address functional impairment and to determine whether the Veteran has an incisional inguinal hernia.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.