What DC code does VA use for inguinal hernia?

VA rates inguinal hernias under Diagnostic Code 7338. Ratings under DC 7338 range from 0% (post-repair with no recurrence and no symptoms) to 10% (small, reducible, with or without truss use) to 40% (large irreducible with frequent incarceration) to 100% (with marked interference with exertion, persistent vomiting, or complications requiring surgery).

What is the VA rating after hernia surgery?

After hernia repair, VA rating is based on residual symptoms and recurrence. If the hernia is successfully repaired with no recurrence, VA may rate it at 0% — but this is still a service-connected condition that opens the door to future ratings if the hernia recurs or residuals develop. If post-surgical residuals include recurrence, chronic pain, mesh complications, or nerve damage from the repair, higher ratings apply.

How does VA rate a hernia requiring a truss?

Under DC 7338, a hernia requiring use of a truss (supportive device to keep the hernia reduced) rates at 10% for a small hernia with no complications beyond truss requirement. This is a common rating for veterans with inguinal hernias that were repaired but have recurred or who require a truss for comfort and safety. The truss requirement indicates the hernia is not fully corrected.

Can military service cause a hernia?

Yes. Hernias — particularly inguinal hernias — are directly caused by the acute and sustained intra-abdominal pressure spikes from heavy lifting, physical training, and load carrying inherent to military service. Combat MOSs, logistics, construction, and infantry roles all involve the heavy lifting most associated with inguinal hernia development. Service connection requires documenting the physical demands and any in-service symptoms.

What is DC 7339 and how does it differ from DC 7338?

DC 7339 covers ventral (abdominal wall) hernias, including incisional hernias that develop after abdominal surgery. DC 7338 covers inguinal hernias specifically. Ventral hernias rated under DC 7339 follow similar rating criteria: 0% for repair with no recurrence, up to 10-40% for recurrent or symptomatic hernias. Incisional hernias from service-connected abdominal surgeries (such as GSW repair or appendectomy) are ratable under DC 7339 as secondary conditions.

What is a hiatal hernia and how does VA rate it?

A hiatal hernia is a protrusion of the stomach through the diaphragmatic hiatus. VA rates hiatal hernias under DC 7346 based on symptoms: 10% for two or more symptoms of persistent epigastric distress, pyrosis, regurgitation, or dysphagia after meals; 30% for daily symptoms with dysphagia, regurgitation, and substernochondral or substernal pain; 60% for persistently recurring epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, productive of considerable impairment of health.

Can I claim a hernia that was repaired during service?

Yes. If a hernia was repaired during service, any post-service recurrence, chronic pain, mesh complications, or functional limitations are directly service-connected residuals of the in-service condition and repair. Even if the post-service examination shows no recurrence, the service-connected hernia (repaired) should be claimed — VA may rate it at 0% compensable but the service connection protects future claims if residuals develop.

Does mesh complications from hernia repair affect VA rating?

Yes. Mesh complications — including chronic mesh pain, mesh migration, infection, or mesh removal — are ratable residuals of hernia repair. If VA performed the repair or the repair was for a service-connected hernia, mesh complications are directly service-connected. Chronic mesh pain can support a higher rating under DC 7338/7339, and significant complications may support even higher ratings if they substantially interfere with function.

What is a sports hernia and is it the same as inguinal hernia for VA?

A sports hernia (athletic pubalgia) is different from a true inguinal hernia — it involves tearing of muscles or tendons in the lower abdominal wall without a true fascial defect. For VA rating, sports hernia/athletic pubalgia does not directly fall under DC 7338 but may be rated by analogy under DC 5284 (other foot injury) or another appropriate musculoskeletal code. A nexus letter should identify the appropriate rating code and rationale for an athletic pubalgia claim.

Can I get a VA rating for bilateral inguinal hernias?

Yes. VA rates each inguinal hernia separately — right and left inguinal hernias each get their own DC 7338 rating. If both are service-connected, both are rated. The bilateral factor under 38 CFR 4.68 may apply to the combined bilateral inguinal hernia ratings if they qualify as bilateral conditions under VA's combining rules.

What symptoms increase a hernia VA rating?

Symptoms that support higher VA hernia ratings include: incarceration (hernia gets stuck and cannot be reduced), strangulation risk, severe pain with exertion, marked interference with physical activity, difficulty with heavy lifting or prolonged standing, vomiting with the hernia, and persistent symptoms not controlled with a truss or conservative management.

Is GERD secondary to hiatal hernia ratable?

Potentially yes. If you have a service-connected hiatal hernia that causes GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), the GERD may be ratable as a secondary condition. GERD is rated under DC 7346 or 7347, and a nexus letter establishing the causal link between the service-connected hiatal hernia and the GERD diagnosis would support the secondary claim.

What is the rating for a recurrent inguinal hernia?

A recurrent inguinal hernia — one that returns after surgical repair — rates under DC 7338 based on current size and symptoms. Small recurrent hernias with truss requirement typically rate at 10%. Larger recurrent hernias with moderate symptoms may rate at 20–40%. Recurrence after repair is direct evidence that the condition is ongoing and supports continued service connection and rating.

What is the VA combined disability rating process for multiple hernias?

If you have multiple hernias — for example, a right inguinal hernia and a hiatal hernia — each is rated under its own DC code (DC 7338 and DC 7346 respectively), and the ratings are combined using VA's combined ratings table from 38 CFR Part 4. They are not added together arithmetically. For example, 10% + 10% combined under VA math = 19%, rounded to 20%.

Can physical training in the military cause a hiatal hernia?

Physical training, heavy lifting, and sustained intra-abdominal pressure increases from military activities can contribute to or aggravate hiatal hernia development. While hiatal hernias have a strong constitutional component, military service can accelerate their development or symptomatic presentation. A nexus letter from a gastroenterologist or general surgeon explaining the causal relationship in the context of the veteran's specific service activities is needed to establish service connection.

Can I get VA disability for a femoral hernia?

Femoral hernias are not specifically listed in the VA rating schedule. They would be rated by analogy under DC 7339 (ventral hernia) under 38 CFR § 4.20, as the most closely related category. The same rating criteria apply: 0% for repaired with no recurrence, up to higher ratings for recurrent or symptomatic cases. A nexus letter should explicitly reference the analogy rating framework.

GI / Abdominal Claims Updated July 2026 · By Marcus J. Webb

VA Disability Rating for Hernia: Inguinal, Ventral, and Hiatal (DC 7338, 7339, 7346)

Hernias are one of the most common service-connected conditions among veterans — particularly inguinal hernias in combat and logistics MOSs where heavy lifting is a constant occupational demand. Yet many veterans either never file a hernia claim, or accept a 0% rating for a "repaired" hernia without understanding that recurrence, mesh complications, and ongoing symptoms all support higher ratings. This guide covers the three main hernia DC codes, how VA determines ratings at each level, service connection pathways, and what to do when surgery doesn't solve the problem.

🩺

Need a Medical Nexus for Your Hernia Claim?

REE Medical connects veterans with general surgeons and gastroenterologists who can provide nexus letters documenting the connection between military service and hernia development, recurrence, or ongoing complications.

Explore REE Medical's Nexus Services →

claim.vet may receive a referral fee if you use this link. Veterans never pay more.

Types of Hernias VA Rates

A hernia is a protrusion of an organ or tissue through a weakened area in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue wall. VA rates different types of hernias under different Diagnostic Codes based on their anatomical location:

Hernia Type	DC Code	Location	Common Military Cause
Inguinal hernia	7338	Groin — through the inguinal canal	Heavy lifting, physical training
Ventral/incisional hernia	7339	Abdominal wall, including prior surgical sites	Post-surgical (GSW, appendectomy)
Hiatal hernia	7346	Stomach through diaphragm	Load bearing, chronic straining, blast injury
Femoral hernia	7339 (analogy)	Femoral canal — upper thigh/groin	Heavy lifting
Umbilical/epigastric	7339 (analogy)	Navel or upper abdomen	Abdominal wall strain

DC 7338: Inguinal Hernia — Rating Criteria

Inguinal hernias are the most common type in male veterans, given the male predominance of the inguinal canal anatomy and the heavy-lifting demands of most military occupational specialties. DC 7338 rates as follows:

Condition	Rating
Large, irreducible hernia not controlled by truss; or incarceration with frequent attacks	40%
Small reducible hernia, with weakness and pain, poorly controlled by truss	20%
Small hernia, well-controlled by truss; or healed, with marked interference with exertion; or intermittent, mild, requires truss or other support	10%
Healed inguinal hernia — repaired, with no recurrence, no required truss or support, asymptomatic	0% (service-connected)

Key points about DC 7338 ratings:

A 0% rating after repair still represents service connection — important if the hernia recurs
The 10% rating applies broadly: a hernia that requires any truss or support device qualifies
"Weakness and pain" even with adequate truss control supports 20%
Incarceration — when the hernia contents get stuck and cannot be reduced — is a serious complication supporting 40%

Don't Accept 0% Without Fighting for Service Connection

A 0% compensable rating for a repaired hernia is actually valuable — it establishes service connection for the hernia. If the hernia recurs after repair (which happens in 10–15% of cases), you already have service connection and simply need to document the recurrence to upgrade to a compensable rating. Without the 0% service connection, you'd need to start the entire service connection process over again.

DC 7339: Ventral (Abdominal Wall) Hernia — Rating Criteria

Ventral hernias include incisional hernias that develop at prior surgical sites — common in veterans who had abdominal surgery during service for gunshot wounds, bowel injuries, appendectomy, or other conditions. DC 7339 ratings:

Condition	Rating
Large hernia not controlled by truss; incarceration or bowel obstruction	40%
Small hernia, persistent pain, not controlled by truss	20%
Small hernia requiring truss or support; intermittently symptomatic	10%
Healed, repaired, no truss required, asymptomatic	0% (service-connected)

Incisional hernias are particularly relevant for veterans who had abdominal surgery during service. The key nexus here is indirect: the service-connected surgery caused the abdominal wall weakness that led to the hernia. This is a secondary service connection argument — the hernia is secondary to the service-connected surgical event.

DC 7346: Hiatal Hernia — Rating Criteria

Hiatal hernias are rated under DC 7346 based on the frequency and severity of symptoms — unlike the inguinal and ventral codes which focus on physical reducibility and support needs. DC 7346 ratings:

Symptom Pattern	Rating
Two or more symptoms of persistent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation	10%
Daily symptoms: dysphagia, regurgitation, and substernochondral or substernal pain after meals	30%
Persistently recurring symptoms with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, with considerable health impairment	60%

Key terms for DC 7346:

Pyrosis: Heartburn — burning sensation in the chest rising from the stomach
Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing
Regurgitation: Backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus/mouth
Epigastric distress: Pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen
Substernochondral/substernal pain: Pain behind the sternum or at the junction of the sternum and cartilage

At your C&P exam for hiatal hernia, be specific about symptom frequency (daily, several times weekly), severity (mild discomfort vs. interferes with eating or sleep), and any GERD-related complications like esophagitis or Barrett's esophagus diagnosed on endoscopy.

Service Connection for Military Hernias

Inguinal hernias are among the most commonly service-connected conditions for good reason: military occupational demands create the exact physiological conditions for hernia development.

Physical Mechanisms of Inguinal Hernia Formation

Inguinal hernias form when intra-abdominal pressure spikes exceed the tensile strength of the inguinal canal floor. Activities that spike intra-abdominal pressure include:

Heavy lifting (loading and unloading supplies, ammunition, vehicle maintenance)
Sustained load carrying (rucksacks, body armor, ammunition loads)
Physical training including push-ups, sit-ups, and heavy compound lifts
Straining during constipation — common during deployments with poor diet and dehydration

Veterans in logistics (92 series), ordnance (89 series), combat (11 series), and engineering MOSs have the highest documented rates of inguinal hernia from service-related heavy lifting. However, any MOS involving regular physical training creates hernia risk through the sustained intra-abdominal pressure of PT.

Direct vs. Aggravation Claims

Two pathways to service connection:

Direct service connection: Hernia developed during service. STR documentation of symptoms or diagnosis during active duty is the strongest evidence.
Aggravation of pre-existing condition: If you had a pre-existing hernia tendency (congenital weakness), military service that aggravated it beyond its natural progression is also compensable under 38 CFR § 3.306.

Post-Surgical and Repaired Hernias

Hernia repair — whether laparoscopic or open, with or without mesh — does not end the VA claim process. Post-surgical considerations include:

Mesh Complications

Surgical mesh is used in the vast majority of hernia repairs and can cause chronic complications including:

Chronic mesh pain: Persistent groin or abdominal pain from mesh reaction — ratable as an ongoing symptom under DC 7338/7339
Mesh migration: Mesh that shifts post-operatively, requiring revision surgery
Mesh infection: Infection requiring mesh removal — significant complication supporting higher ratings
Inguinal nerve entrapment: Chronic groin neuralgia from ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, or genitofemoral nerve damage during repair — separately ratable as peripheral nerve condition

Rating After Repair

After surgery, VA rates the current state of the hernia — not the pre-surgical severity. If the repair was successful and the hernia is not recurrent, 0% compensable is appropriate but service connection is preserved. If symptoms persist (chronic mesh pain, nerve entrapment) or recurrence occurs, the rating upgrades accordingly.

Truss Use and Rating Implications

A truss is a supportive garment that provides external pressure over the hernia site to reduce or contain the herniated tissue. VA specifically mentions truss use in DC 7338 rating criteria because it indicates the hernia is ongoing and symptomatic rather than fully corrected.

If you currently use a truss or hernia support garment:

Bring the device to your C&P exam and show it to the examiner
Document that you were prescribed or recommended the truss by a physician
Describe how often you use it and what activities require its use
Note whether the truss adequately controls your hernia or provides incomplete relief

A truss requirement alone qualifies for the 10% rating under DC 7338, even with otherwise minimal symptoms.

Recurrent Hernias: Rating Upgrades

Hernia recurrence after repair — with the hernia bulging through again at the repair site — is a common complication affecting approximately 10–15% of open repairs and 3–5% of laparoscopic repairs. For VA purposes, recurrence after a 0% compensable repaired hernia means:

The existing service connection covers the recurrence — no new service connection claim required
File a rating increase claim (VA Form 21-0995 or 21-526EZ) documenting the recurrence
Provide medical documentation of the recurrence (clinical notes, imaging)
Rate the recurrent hernia under DC 7338/7339 based on its current characteristics

Secondary Conditions to Claim with Hernias

GERD / esophagitis: Secondary to service-connected hiatal hernia — DC 7346 or 7347
Chronic groin neuralgia: Nerve damage from inguinal hernia repair — peripheral nerve rating under DC 8515 (ilioinguinal nerve)
Incisional hernia: If repair of a service-connected abdominal injury led to hernia — DC 7339 secondary
Bowel obstruction sequelae: If incarceration or strangulation resulted in bowel resection — any post-resection complications are ratable
Testicular conditions: Inguinal hernia repair complications affecting the vas deferens or testicular blood supply — if applicable

Building Your Hernia VA Claim

Gather STRs documenting any hernia symptoms, sick call visits, or surgical procedures during service
If hernia was repaired during service, document the surgical report and recovery records
Obtain a current diagnosis from a general surgeon, gastroenterologist, or primary care provider
If post-surgical: document recurrence, mesh complications, or chronic symptoms with current clinical notes
Get a nexus letter from a physician connecting your hernia to military service activities
File for bilateral inguinal hernias separately if both sides are affected
Consider secondary claims for GERD (hiatal) or nerve damage (inguinal repair)
If you use a truss: document truss prescription/recommendation and frequency of use

Example Nexus Language: Inguinal Hernia — Heavy Lifting Service Connection

"Based on my review of [veteran's] service treatment records documenting a right inguinal hernia repaired during service in 2006, current clinical evaluation showing recurrence of right inguinal hernia measuring 3 cm with reducibility under pressure, and his MOS history as a 92A Automated Logistical Specialist with documented daily heavy lifting requirements (field reports, ammunition, vehicle parts — routinely exceeding 50 lbs), it is my medical opinion that it is at least as likely as not that his current recurrent right inguinal hernia is directly related to his military service. The mechanism — sustained repetitive intra-abdominal pressure spikes from occupational heavy lifting — is a well-established cause of inguinal hernia in young adult males. His current hernia, although repaired in 2006, has recurred and now requires a truss for control. This recurrence is a known complication of inguinal hernia repair and represents continued disability from the original service-connected condition."

📋

Hernia Claims with Mesh Complications

If you have chronic mesh pain, nerve entrapment, or recurring hernias after surgical repair, REE Medical can connect you with general surgeons who understand both the surgical residuals and the VA rating criteria. Complex hernia claims benefit from specialist nexus letters.

Find a Hernia Specialist Nexus Letter →