On May 18, 2004, the Board of Directors approved revisions to policy item #15.50, Herniae, of Volume II of the RSCM, effective June 1, 2004. Policy item #15.50 of Volume I of the RSCM has also been slightly revised, in that it directs readers to policy item #15.50 in Volume II, for all decisions, including appellate decisions made on or after June 1, 2004.

Revisions to policy item #15.50 of Volume II include the deletion of an outdated time frame for post-operative wage loss benefits; the extension of general adjudicative principles to all types of hernia claims; and removal of outdated policy for various types of non-inguinal herniae. Adjudicative guidance for post-operative wage loss benefits is to be provided by the Simple Herniorrhaphy Post-Operative Rehabilitation Guidelines. As a result of these changes, the policy has been scientifically updated, with improved clarity and consistency with policies for other types of injuries.