The Board found that the veteran's stomach disorder is not related to his service or his service-connected anal fissure. The HIV infection was determined to be due to drug use and a sexually transmitted disease, with no scalpel injury being considered as a cause. Tuberculosis was denied based on lack of evidence of active disease. The rating for anal fissure remains at 10%.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show any current stomach disorder related to service or the veteran's service-connected anal fissure, and no scalpel injury from service was considered as a cause of HIV infection. There is also no evidence of active tuberculosis in the record.
- Claimed conditions
- Stomach Disorder, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection, Tuberculosis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 2, 2003
- Citation
- 0314616
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 0314616.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
New evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for tuberculosis, and it is granted. However, there is no current diagnosis of tuberculosis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension on a basis other than the PACT Act and remanded the stomach disorder claim.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and tuberculosis, granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, and granted an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for pulmonary fibrosis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as correctable evidence was not obtained and VA examinations were inadequate.
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.