The Board denied an initial compensable rating for left posteromedial diaphragmatic defect and subsequent fat herniation, dismissed the claims for a higher rating for ventral hernia and SMC based on housebound criteria.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show symptomatology from September 14, 2024, to support a compensable rating for left posteromedial diaphragmatic defect and subsequent fat herniation. The Veteran is in receipt of the highest schedular evaluation allowed under the law for ventral hernia.
- Claimed conditions
- left posteromedial diaphragmatic defect and subsequent fat herniation, inguinal hernia, ventral hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25038797
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for an inguinal hernia and remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, a skin condition, suspicious nevus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining outstanding private medical records.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hernia, other than hiatal, specifically ventral, inguinal, and umbilical hernias, finding that the Veteran's obesity, caused by his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in causing these hernias.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including radical cystectomy residuals with colonic pouch, ventral hernia, hypertension, and others, as the evidence did not corroborate the Veteran's reported exposure to Agent Orange or asbestos during service.
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