The Board granted service connection for a left middle finger disability and assigned a 10 percent rating for bilateral postoperative inguinal hernia. The veteran's scar and scar tissue of the left groin were rated at 10 percent, while his right groin scar was rated at 0 percent. The decision also addressed an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the right groin scar after August 10, 2001.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected bilateral postoperative inguinal hernia warranted a 10 percent evaluation as it was not well-supported by truss or belt and did not readily reduce. The scars were rated based on their size and the presence of limited motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral postoperative inguinal hernia, Left middle finger disability, Scar and scar tissue of the left groin, Scar and scar tissue of the right groin
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 31, 2006
- Citation
- 0602713
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,776 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0602713.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Denied
The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability in accordance with VA standards.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person for the period from September 28, 2021 onward. However, there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities alone result in the need for aid and attendance prior to this date.
- Denied
The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, as his right hand disability and urinary incontinence are manageable with sedentary work.
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