Hello I am wondering if there is increased network/packet security by connecting to a server over ssh through a VPN hosted by that same server as opposed to without first tunneling by VPN. I imagine with or without tunneling through a VPN there would be latency/speed differences too?
It depends on how the router responds to other non-forwarded ports. For UDP an open port with no response is the same as a dropped packet. A scanner will only know if the device sends an ICMP response back to indicate that it is closed.