The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the service-connected impairment of sphincter control, finding that occasional involuntary bowel movements necessitating the wearing of a pad meet the criteria for this rating. The veteran's condition does not warrant a higher evaluation as there is no evidence of extensive leakage or frequent involuntary bowel movements.
The deciding factor: The VA examination and outpatient records consistently documented occasional involuntary bowel movements requiring the use of a diaper, which aligns with the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7332.
- Claimed conditions
- Impairment of sphincter control
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 8, 2003
- Citation
- 0306791
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,514 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0306791.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of March 1, 2022 for the award of service connection for impairment of sphincter control as secondary to service-connected internal and external hemorrhoids with pruritus ani. The Veteran is also awarded a rating of 60 percent for this condition since March 1, 2022.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for service connection of depressive disorder, LLE weakness, and impairment of sphincter control is granted.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for MS is denied.,A 10 percent rating for CFS is granted.,A 50 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.,A 10 percent rating for migraines with visual disturbances is granted.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for LUE weakness is denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for RLE weakness is denied.,A 10 percent rating for LLE weakness is granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected Multiple Sclerosis resulted in a compensable rating and effective date of January 20, 2017. The awards for voiding dysfunction, swallowing difficulties, and impairment of sphincter control are also effective from that date.
- Granted
The Veteran's IBS is rated at 30 percent from March 5, 2019. Service connection for impairment of sphincter control secondary to service-connected IBS is granted.
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