The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a left indirect inguinal hernia, as the evidence did not associate any current left indirect inguinal hernia with the Veteran's military service.
The deciding factor: The newly submitted evidence was either cumulative or not significant enough to prove that the Veteran's left indirect inguinal hernia began during or worsened due to his period of military service.
- Claimed conditions
- left indirect inguinal hernia
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2009
- Citation
- 0909944
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,458 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0909944.
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 the Veteran's claim for residuals of an indirect left inguinal hernia, including a scar from the surgery.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected left indirect inguinal hernia disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board is remanding the case to ensure that proper notification regarding 'new and material evidence' has been provided, as the veteran's claim was filed prior to August 28, 2001. The AOJ should consider the issue under the correct standard.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a left indirect inguinal hernia is being considered. The RO has requested the veteran's entrance physical examination and will review whether new and material evidence has been submitted.
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