The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral inguinal hernias and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed that the Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernias were manifested by post-operative recurrent hernias which were readily reducible. The Board found that these conditions did not warrant a higher disability rating than the current 20 percent assigned under DC 7338.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of back injury, bilateral inguinal hernias
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 22, 2009
- Citation
- 0935750
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 0935750.
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 increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral inguinal hernias and left eye retinal hole without detachment based on the evidence of record.
- Dismissed
The appeals for increased ratings and initial compensable disability ratings were dismissed as withdrawn by the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of March 31, 2016, for the award of TDIU based on a finding that the Veteran detrimentally relied on misleading VA communications.
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