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 assigned
- None in this 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 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 0909944.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for residuals of an indirect left inguinal hernia, including a scar from the surgery.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.