The Veteran's claim for service connection based on aggravation of a preexisting umbilical hernia is granted. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for left leg varicose veins and left ankle disabilities are denied. The claims for service connection for left foot disability, melanoma, and blindness due to Camp Lejeune exposure are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's umbilical hernia was noted on his entrance examination and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it preexisted service or that any increase in severity during service was not due to natural progression. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for left leg varicose veins and left ankle disabilities are denied as there were no formal or informal claims prior to April 27, 2018.
- Claimed conditions
- umbilical hernia, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain (a left ankle disability), varicose veins of the left leg
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23067992
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 23067992.
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 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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