The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher initial rating, and service connection for various disorders, including those secondary to the left knee disability with obesity as an intermediary step.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding of massive, persistent, severe diastasis of recti muscles or extensive diffuse destruction or weakening of muscular and fascial support of the abdominal wall so as to be inoperable for the ventral hernia. The claims were remanded for further development.
- Claimed conditions
- ventral hernia, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, right knee disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25046124
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, migraines, left and right knee disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea due to missing military records and inadequate examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a left hip disorder to be further developed, including an examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders to obtain a new examination that adequately addresses all pertinent evidence of record.
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