The veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 16, 1998; zero percent from January 1, 1999, to August 9, 2000; and 20 percent from August 10, 2000, for his service-connected bilateral inguinal hernia must be denied. He does not meet any of the criteria for the next higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7338.
The deciding factor: The veteran's bilateral inguinal hernia was not postoperative recurrent or unoperated irremediable prior to November 16, 1998, and did not have symptoms that would warrant a higher rating. His residuals of a fistulectomy and hemorrhoidectomy were rated as impairment of sphincter control under Diagnostic Code 7335.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Inguinal Hernia, Residuals of Fistulectomy and Hemorrhoidectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2004
- Citation
- 0434015
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0434015.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernia disability, effective from the date of the appeal. The maximum schedular rating under DC 7338 is assigned.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for anxiety disorder and bilateral inguinal hernia are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the severity of his conditions throughout the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the claims for increased ratings and service connection are inextricably intertwined with the appellant's request to substitute as a claimant. The AOJ must address these issues, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and addressing the February 2014 VA examiner's qualifications.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for TDIU, a temporary total rating for convalescence based on bilateral inguinal hernia surgery, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran opted into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system.
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