The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of an injury to the rectum and new and material evidence for his head injury and 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 claims.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence showing current residuals of a rectal injury or fistula in ano, and the appellant's statements are not considered competent medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of an injury to the rectum, fistula in ano
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2001
- Citation
- 0126563
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0126563.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left wrist degenerative arthritis, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, eye disability, and sciatica of the right lower extremity. However, it granted a 40 percent rating for back disability, service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to the back disability, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for further examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's fistula in ano and/or impairment of sphincter control associated with internal and external hemorrhoids.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim due to inadequate examination and treatment records, requiring a new VA examination for an opinion on whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to service-connected hemorrhoids with history of anal fissure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The VA Board found that the Veteran does not have a fistula in ano or impairment of sphincter control associated with his hemorrhoids, and thus denied his claim for a separate rating.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.