The Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernias, post-laparoscopic repair with mesh and associated scars, are rated at a 20 percent disability rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings demonstrated that the Veteran had both right-sided and left-sided hernias which were readily reducible and well supported by truss or belt, meeting the criteria for a 10 percent rating under DC 7338. Additionally, as the second hernia was also postoperative recurrent, readily reducible and well supported by truss or belt, an additional 10 percent is warranted due to bilateral involvement.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral inguinal hernias, Associated scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19180040
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,776 · 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 19180040.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's application to reopen his right ear hearing loss disability claim was granted. His bilateral inguinal hernias and lumbosacral spine DDD claims were denied, as well as an increased rating for the latter condition prior to August 9, 2022. The earlier effective date of February 19, 2016 for his right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy claim was granted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for urinary tract infections, left hip disability, right foot tendonitis, and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis as secondary to the Veteran's Peyronie's disease. The other claims were not addressed in detail.
- Denied
The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including hiatal hernia, reflux, and esophagitis, or bilateral inguinal hernias to service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a grant of service connection for these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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