The Veteran's disability rating for bilateral inguinal hernia and left hydrocele repair was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent effective August 1, 2015. The Board found that the reduction was improper due to inadequate examinations and restored the original 20 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations were deemed inadequate as they did not properly consider the Veteran's lay statements or provide a rationale for their findings of no hernia detected on examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral inguinal hernia, Left hydrocele repair
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19194769
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 19194769.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied initial compensable disability ratings for various scars, inguinal hernia, and other conditions. The issues related to lumbar discogenic pain with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, thoracic spine pain, adjustment disorder, alcohol use disorder, right clavicle facture, and left hand boxer's fracture were remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD was granted a total disability rating from August 22, 2019, and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from September 30, 2019. The Veteran is also granted individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities from December 1, 2013.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for an increased rating for bilateral inguinal hernia and an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for Type II diabetes mellitus, as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.
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