The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for complications of right inguinal herniorrhaphy with mesh, including hole in upper right groin, hydroceles, weakness of right side from groin down the leg, and emotional distress, finding that these conditions were not caused by VA care or treatment.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's claimed complications did not result from VA training, hospitalization, medical or surgical treatment, or examination. The examiner found no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of VA personnel and concluded that the additional disabilities were natural progressions of his pre-existing conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Right inguinal hernia, Hydroceles, Weakness on right side from groin down to leg
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 12, 2020
- Citation
- 20032956
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20032956.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's right inguinal hernia repair due to lack of evidence of recurrent or disabling symptoms.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right inguinal hernia, finding that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right inguinal hernia, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the condition and that the current diagnosis was not incurred during active duty.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right inguinal hernia, non allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), while granting service connection for left knee strain and left leg shin splints.
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