The veteran's disability, including fecal incontinence, chronic anemia, and a colostomy bag, is deemed to be due to VA treatment for rectal cancer. The claim is granted as the proximate cause of this additional disability was not the fault of the Department.
The deciding factor: The primary cause of the veteran's increased disability was determined to be the radiation therapy provided by VA, which caused significant complications such as chronic ulceration, chronic anemia, and fecal incontinence. Signature consent for treatment was obtained but did not cover these specific risks.
- Claimed conditions
- Fecal Incontinence, Chronic Anemia, Colostomy Bag
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- December 5, 2008
- Citation
- 0841936
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 0841936.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for a urinary disability, claimed as urinary incontinence, is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a fecal incontinence disability, including as secondary to a pelvic floor disability, is remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial claim for a 60 percent rating for fecal incontinence was granted. The effective date of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on permanent and total disability status is set at February 26, 2020. The earlier effective date for service connection for fecal incontinence prior to August 16, 2019, is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 due to a lack of evidence showing that his bowel/fecal incontinence was caused by VA care and treatment following an August 9, 2000 hemorrhoidectomy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases of fecal incontinence and a rating for irritable bowel syndrome due to the need for further medical examination and evaluation.
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