The Board remanded both issues regarding service connection for right inguinal hernia with scar and associated surgical scar to obtain additional military service records, private medical records, and a medical examination to determine whether the hernia was incurred in service. The Board also remanded to clarify whether the appellant qualifies as a Veteran based on whether he was in ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA status when the injury occurred in 1998.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the low threshold for obtaining a VA medical examination under McLendon was met because there is competent evidence of current disability with persistent symptoms, evidence that an event occurred during a claimed service period, and an indication the disability may be associated with service, but insufficient medical evidence exists to determine in-service incurrence or etiology.
- Claimed conditions
- right inguinal hernia with scar, scar associated with right inguinal hernia surgery
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20004122
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Granted
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