VA Diagnostic Code 7338Hernia, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other (but not including hiatal).
Rated from 0% to 100% under § 4.114. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 100%
Irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) present for 12 months or more; with both of the following present for 12 months or more: 1. Size equal to 15 cm or greater in one dimension; and 2. Pain when performing at least three of the following activities: (1) bending over, (2) activities of daily living (ADLs), (3) walking, and (4) climbing stairs
- 60%
Irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) present for 12 months or more; with both of the following present for 12 months or more: 1. Size equal to 15 cm or greater in one dimension; and 2. Pain when performing two of the following activities: (1) bending over, (2) activities of daily living (ADLs), (3) walking, and (4) climbing stairs
- 30%
Irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) present for 12 months or more; with both of the following present for 12 months or more: 1. Size equal to 3 cm or greater but less than 15 cm in one dimension; and 2. Pain when performing at least two of the following activities: (1) bending over, (2) activities of daily living (ADLs), (3) walking, and (4) climbing stairs
- 20%
Irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) present for 12 months or more; with both of the following present for 12 months or more: 1. Size equal to 3 cm or greater but less than 15 cm in one dimension; and 2. Pain when performing one of the following activities: (1) bending over, (2) activities of daily living (ADLs), (3) walking, and (4) climbing stairs
- 10%
Irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) present for 12 months or more; with hernia size smaller than 3 cm
- 0%
Asymptomatic hernia; present and repairable, or repaired
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Note (1): With two compensable inguinal hernias, evaluate the more severely disabling hernia first, and then add 10% to that rating to account for the second compensable hernia. Do not add 10% to that rating if the more severely disabling hernia is rated at 100%.
- Note (2): Any one of the following activities of daily living are sufficient for evaluation: bathing, dressing, hygiene, and/or transfers.
VA Disability Rating for Hernia (Diagnostic Code 7338)
Digestive System — 38 CFR § 4.114
Understanding This Condition
Diagnostic Code 7338 covers hernias, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other types. It does not include hiatal hernias.
A hernia occurs when tissue pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue. When the VA evaluates a hernia under this code, it looks at whether the hernia is repairable or irreparable, how long it has been present, its size, and how much pain it causes during everyday activities.
Available Rating Levels
The VA assigns one of the following ratings based on the size of the hernia and the number of activities that cause pain. Many of these levels require that an irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) has been present for 12 months or more, with the qualifying conditions also present for 12 months or more.
| Rating | What It Reflects |
|---|---|
| 100% | Irreparable hernia present for 12 months or more, with both: (1) size equal to 15 cm or greater in one dimension; and (2) pain when performing at least three of these activities — bending over, activities of daily living (ADLs), walking, climbing stairs. |
| 60% | Irreparable hernia present for 12 months or more, with both: (1) size equal to 15 cm or greater in one dimension; and (2) pain when performing two of these activities — bending over, ADLs, walking, climbing stairs. |
| 30% | Irreparable hernia present for 12 months or more, with both: (1) size equal to 3 cm or greater but less than 15 cm in one dimension; and (2) pain when performing at least two of these activities — bending over, ADLs, walking, climbing stairs. |
| 20% | Irreparable hernia present for 12 months or more, with both: (1) size equal to 3 cm or greater but less than 15 cm in one dimension; and (2) pain when performing one of these activities — bending over, ADLs, walking, climbing stairs. |
| 10% | Irreparable hernia present for 12 months or more, with hernia size smaller than 3 cm. |
| 0% | Asymptomatic hernia; present and repairable, or repaired. |
What the VA Looks For
When rating a hernia under Diagnostic Code 7338, the VA considers:
- Whether the hernia is repairable or irreparable, and whether it is new or recurrent.
- How long the hernia has been present — many rating levels require the condition to have lasted 12 months or more.
- The size of the hernia, measured in one dimension (smaller than 3 cm; 3 cm or greater but less than 15 cm; or 15 cm or greater).
- Pain during specific activities — bending over, activities of daily living (ADLs), walking, and climbing stairs. The number of activities affected can raise the rating level.
Important Notes
- Two compensable inguinal hernias: The VA evaluates the more severely disabling hernia first, then adds 10% to that rating to account for the second compensable hernia. This 10% is not added if the more severely disabling hernia is already rated at 100%.
- Activities of daily living (ADLs): Any one of the following is sufficient for evaluation — bathing, dressing, hygiene, and/or transfers.
This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule for Diagnostic Code 7338 under 38 CFR § 4.114. Individual ratings depend on the specific medical evidence in each case.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.114, diagnostic code 7338. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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