The Veteran's postoperative bilateral inguinal hernias have manifested without current hernia protrusion, without hernia recurrence since surgery, and without truss or belt required; with episodes of lower abdominal and groin pain; and the surgical scars are undetectable and cause no loss of function or motion. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral inguinal hernias have not been met.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's postoperative bilateral inguinal hernias manifested without current hernia protrusion, without hernia recurrence since surgery, and without truss or belt required; with episodes of lower abdominal and groin pain; and the surgical scars are undetectable and cause no loss of function or motion. Given these facts, the Board finds that the current 20 percent evaluation adequately reflects the Veteran's postoperative bilateral inguinal hernias and paralysis of his ilioinguinal nerve during the relevant period.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Inguinal Hernias, Paralysis of the Ilioinguinal Nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 5, 2016
- Citation
- 1604367
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 1604367.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernias were denied an initial compensable rating prior to May 1, 2019 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. A temporary 100% rating was granted from September 18, 2019 to November 30, 2019 due to convalescence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The claims include multiple sclerosis, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral inguinal hernias.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and records to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions and whether he has a bilateral hand disability secondary to his service-connected autonomic neuropathy.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service, including exposure to toxins and contaminants. The claims for peripheral neuropathy, colon polyps, diabetes mellitus, neck tumor, abdominal hernia, bilateral inguinal hernias, and coronary artery disease have all been denied.
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