The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, postoperative residuals from hemorrhoidectomy, and gastrointestinal signs and symptoms (including bloody stools) due to an undiagnosed illness resulting from Persian Gulf service. Service connection was not established for neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, gastrointestinal issues, and postoperative residuals were related to his military service, while the neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms were due to an undiagnosed illness resulting from Persian Gulf service.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a back injury, chronic disability manifested by neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms (including depression, anxiety, fatigue, malaise, lack of energy, insomnia), postoperative residuals, hemorrhoidectomy, chronic disability manifested by gastrointestinal signs and symptoms (including bloody stools, stomach pain, diarrhea)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2002
- Citation
- 0204482
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0204482.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several issues, including service connection for stomach pain.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for anxiety but denied it for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was less likely than not related to his active service or service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various acquired psychiatric disorders.
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.