EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Femoral Hernia
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.114 (Digestive system) · reviewed 2026-05-17 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Femoral Hernia is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7338 of 38 CFR § 4.114, DC 7338 (all abdominal-wall hernias consolidated; the former DC 7339 ventral-hernia framework was absorbed into DC 7338 by § 4.114 amendment) across 6 severity tiers (0% / 10% / 20% / 30% / 60%…). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Protrusion of abdominal contents through the femoral canal below the inguinal ligament
RATING CRITERIA (6 LEVELS)
0%
Asymptomatic hernia; present and repairable, or repaired.
10%
Irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) present for 12 months or more; with hernia size smaller than 3 cm.
20%
Irreparable hernia present for 12 months or more; with size 3-15 cm in one dimension AND pain when performing one of: bending over, ADLs, walking, or climbing stairs.
30%
Irreparable hernia present for 12 months or more; with size 3-15 cm in one dimension AND pain when performing at least two of those activities.
60%
Irreparable hernia present for 12 months or more; with size 15 cm or greater AND pain when performing two of those activities.
100%
Irreparable hernia present for 12 months or more; with size 15 cm or greater AND pain when performing at least three of those activities.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.114 (Digestive system). Source verified 2026-05-17 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026