The Board denied service connection for a left inguinal hernia secondary to the service-connected left femur and knee disability. The claim of an increased evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the left femur with traumatic arthritis of the left knee was granted, but only at a 20% rating effective May 18, 1999.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the left inguinal hernia is not related to or aggravated by the service-connected left femur and knee disability. The appellant's left knee disability was evaluated as 20% disabling based on his complaints of pain and functional loss due to use, with limitation of extension to five degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- Left inguinal hernia, Left femur fracture with traumatic arthritis of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 6, 2002
- Citation
- 0215882
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 0215882.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for left inguinal hernia and an initial compensable rating for the scar of the left inguinal hernia, as there was no evidence of recurrent hernia or a painful, unstable, or large scar.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the left inguinal herniorrhaphy scar but denied a compensable rating for the left inguinal hernia and a 10 percent evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to DDD with IVDS, erectile dysfunction as secondary to DDD with IVDS, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ. The appeal was denied for service connection for depression and anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, hypothyroidism, left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, right and left lower extremity peripheral edema, and inguinal hernias.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for posttraumatic stress disorder and left inguinal hernia, but granted an effective date of October 11, 2019, for right shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendinitis. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.
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