The Veteran's left inguinal hernia is now rated at 10 percent effective May 19, 2009. The hepatitis C infection claim was denied as it was caused by willful misconduct.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s recurrent hepatitis C infections were caused by chronic intravenous drug use which constitutes willful misconduct and was not caused by any aspect of active duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatitis C infection, Left inguinal hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 14, 2019
- Citation
- 19137170
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 19137170.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for left inguinal hernia and an initial compensable rating for the scar of the left inguinal hernia, as there was no evidence of recurrent hernia or a painful, unstable, or large scar.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the left inguinal herniorrhaphy scar but denied a compensable rating for the left inguinal hernia and a 10 percent evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to DDD with IVDS, erectile dysfunction as secondary to DDD with IVDS, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ. The appeal was denied for service connection for depression and anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, hypothyroidism, left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, right and left lower extremity peripheral edema, and inguinal hernias.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for posttraumatic stress disorder and left inguinal hernia, but granted an effective date of October 11, 2019, for right shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendinitis. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.
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