The veteran is entitled to a 30 percent rating for ulcerative proctitis from the earlier effective date of August 7, 2001, but a rating in excess of 30 percent for that disease is not warranted. The veteran's Reiter's Syndrome warrants a 40 percent (but no higher) 'staged' rating prior to June 20, 2006; from June 20, 2006, a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.
The deciding factor: The veteran's ulcerative proctitis was moderately severe with frequent exacerbations. For Reiter's Syndrome, the evidence supported a 40 percent rating prior to June 20, 2006; however, from that date onward, a higher rating was not warranted based on the severity of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- ulcerative proctitis, Reiter's Syndrome with sacroilitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 9, 2008
- Citation
- 0815282
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,699 · Granted: 17% (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 0815282.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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 earlier effective dates and initial ratings, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date of entitlement or a higher rating.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as it was granted in a previous decision. The issue of service connection for ulcerative proctitis secondary to diabetes mellitus is remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and/or ulcerative proctitis is at least as likely as not related to service, including his January 1982 complaint of abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that was diagnosed as acute gastroenteritis.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for tinnitus as it was granted in a prior decision. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and ulcerative proctitis were both granted.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.
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.