The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a gastrointestinal condition, including intra-abdominal abscess, phlegmon affecting the ileum and jejunum, perforation of the small bowel, fistulas, anal fissure, or recurrent ventral hernia or incisional hernia, resulting from disease or injury incurred or aggravated during a period of active duty for training in the Army National Guard from May 30, 1998 to June 5, 1998.
The deciding factor: The July 2016 independent medical opinion concluded that none of the appellant's current gastrointestinal diagnoses were incurred or aggravated by his active duty training period.
- Claimed conditions
- intra-abdominal abscess, phlegmon affecting the ileum and jejunum, perforation of the small bowel, fistulas, anal fissure, recurrent ventral hernia or incisional hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2016
- Citation
- 1640933
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1640933.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal to increase the rating for his service-connected anal fissure and hemorrhoids was dismissed because it was an improper appeal of a non-adjudicative decision.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids with anal fissure and fistula, finding that the Veteran's burn pit exposures likely aggravated his existing IBS-related diarrhea, which in turn caused his hemorrhoids.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for an adequate examination to address the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected anal fissure (also claimed as proctalgia fugax, prolonged painful rectum spasms).
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