The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for posterior left diaphragmatic hernia is granted from February 18, 1978. The claim for a higher rating for splenectomy remains denied.
The deciding factor: The post-surgical report indicated that the metallic staple used to repair an iatrogenic injury during the Veteran's in-service splenectomy operation had migrated and weakened the muscular and fascial support of the abdominal wall, leading to a diagnosis of massive, persistent, severe weakening of the left hemidiaphragm.
- Claimed conditions
- posterior left diaphragmatic hernia, splenectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19105935
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,162 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19105935.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing substantially gainful employment, and therefore TDIU is denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for echinococcosis/hydatid disease, splenectomy, mental health condition, sleep apnea, and dental condition due to an inadequate VA medical opinion with a sufficient rationale.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for nephrectomy and splenectomy, as well as the claim of entitlement to TDIU due to the Veteran's death before a decision was made.
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