VA BENEFITS REFERENCE
DC 7338: Hernia, Including Femoral, Inguinal, Umbilical, Ventral, Incisional, And Other (But Not Including Hiatal)
Read VA diagnostic code 7338 for Hernia, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other (but not including hiatal): published criteria, regulatory notes, related codes and official sources checked October 25, 2026.
Published criteria from 38 CFR 4.114, current through 2026-10-22. Historical decisions may require a different version. This reference does not diagnose a condition or determine an evaluation.
The Digestive System · All Diagnostic Codes
DC 7338: Hernia, Including Femoral, Inguinal, Umbilical, Ventral, Incisional, And Other (But Not Including Hiatal)
Diagnostic code 7338 addresses Hernia, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other (but not including hiatal). Read its specific instructions together with any shared formula, notes and linked provisions. These criteria describe evaluation after the applicable entitlement requirements are met; this reference does not diagnose a condition or determine a claim.
| Rating | |
|---|---|
| 7338 Hernia, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other (but not including hiatal). | |
| 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 | 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 two 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 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 | 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 one 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 hernia size smaller than 3 cm | 10 |
| Asymptomatic hernia; present and repairable, or repaired | 0 |
| 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 The Criteria Measure
- Does the decision identify diagnostic code 7338, and does the medical record describe the condition named by this code?
- Have the code-specific notes and cross-references been read before comparing any listed evaluation?
Related Public DBQs
Editorial subject matches, not official VA code-to-form assignments. Read the form scope and clinician instructions.
Shared Rules And Regulatory Context
Context provisions do not create an additional evaluation automatically assigned to every condition.
Related Guides
Official Sources
Last verified 2026-10-25. Source publication or legal effective dates are shown separately where available.
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