The Veteran's right inguinal hernia was not found to meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's scars on his right 5th metacarpal and right inguinal area were also not found to warrant a compensable disability rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show that the Veteran had symptoms related to his right inguinal hernia, such as a small, postoperative recurrent hernia or an unoperated irremediable hernia.,The scars were found to be neither painful nor unstable and do not cover an area of 929 square cm or greater.
- Claimed conditions
- Recurrent right inguinal hernia, Scars on right 5th metacarpal and right inguinal area
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23021319
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 23021319.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board has determined that new evidence received after the February 2016 denial supports reopening of the claim for service connection for recurrent right inguinal hernia. However, the preexisting condition was not aggravated by active service and thus service connection is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective February 2011. The right inguinal hernia remains rated at 30 percent. A TDIU rating is granted.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent right inguinal hernia, including its residuals from surgical repair, is service-connected based on continuity of symptomatology since discharge.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected recurrent right inguinal hernia was denied. The RO assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective from March 2001, and later granted an earlier effective date of August 1996.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.