Education · 38 CFR § 4.114 · Digestive system · not your rating · we do not file
Hernia, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other (but not including hiatal) VA rating (DC 7338)
VA rates hernia, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other (but not including hiatal) under diagnostic code 7338 in 38 CFR § 4.114. The rule book lists 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 60%, and 100%. Below: each level in plain English, then the exact words.
Rule-book name: Hernia, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other (but not including hiatal).. Last checked against eCFR on 2026-10-10 (eCFR issue 2026-08-27). Official text: 38 CFR § 4.114 on eCFR.
Each rating level in plain English
- 100%: The published words look at: needing help to get through daily life; pain, and what it stops you from doing; and how often it happens.
- 60%: The published words look at: needing help to get through daily life; pain, and what it stops you from doing; and how often it happens.
- 30%: The published words look at: needing help to get through daily life; pain, and what it stops you from doing; and how often it happens.
- 20%: The published words look at: needing help to get through daily life; pain, and what it stops you from doing; and how often it happens.
- 10%: Read the exact words below. We have not mapped this line to plain words, so we quote it rather than guess.
- 0%: Read the exact words below. We have not mapped this line to plain words, so we quote it rather than guess.
Plain words come from our reading aid for the published words. They never add a symptom. The quotes below are the rule.
Exact words in 38 CFR § 4.114
“Irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) present for 12 months or more; with both of the following present for 12 months or more:”
100% · “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”
“Irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) present for 12 months or more; with both of the following present for 12 months or more:”
60% · “2. Pain when performing two of the following activities: (1) bending over, (2) activities of daily living (ADLs), (3) walking, and (4) climbing stairs”
“Irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) present for 12 months or more; with both of the following present for 12 months or more:”
30% · “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”
“Irreparable hernia (new or recurrent) present for 12 months or more; with both of the following present for 12 months or more:”
20% · “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 printed with this code
“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.”
What records usually show this
VA reads these things from your records: service treatment records, VA and private treatment records, and the VA claim exam (C&P exam). The published words on this page talk about:
- Needing help to get through daily life: usually found in treatment notes or the VA claim exam (C&P exam) report that describe it, when those exist.
- Pain, and what it stops you from doing: usually found in treatment notes or the VA claim exam (C&P exam) report that describe it, when those exist.
- How often it happens: usually found in treatment notes or the VA claim exam (C&P exam) report that describe it, when those exist.
Education only. This does not say you have any of these, and a record that mentions them does not decide a rating. Only write what is true for you. Evidence needed for your disability claim · VA claim exam (C&P exam)
Put your records next to these lines
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Common questions
What percentages does the VA rating schedule list for Hernia, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other (but not including hiatal) (DC 7338)?
38 CFR § 4.114 lists 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 60%, and 100% for diagnostic code 7338. VA decides which line fits from the evidence. This page is not your rating.
Where do these words come from?
They are quoted from the public eCFR copy of 38 CFR § 4.114, last checked 2026-10-10. The official page is linked on this page so you can check every word.
Does this page tell me what my rating will be?
No. It shows what the published rule book says. It does not predict a rating, a decision, or a dollar amount, and it does not say you have this condition.
Who can file a VA claim for me for free?
Accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) can prepare and file a claim with you at no cost. VA lists accredited representatives on VA.gov. We do not file.
This page quotes the public VA rule book. It is not your rating and not your pay. We do not say you have this condition. We do not file. You, or a free accredited representative, file with VA.
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