The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including L5-S1 degenerative disc disease, was reopened and granted. The Veteran is also granted service connection for depression. However, the rating for small intestine resection with bowel obstruction remains at 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran's back disability, depression, and abdominal condition were related to her military service, but there was no new evidence of a current diagnosis for fibroid tumors, pelvic inflammatory disease, anemia, or appendix condition. The rating for small intestine resection with bowel obstruction remained at 40 percent as it did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability (including L5-S1 degenerative disc disease), fibroid tumors, pelvic inflammatory disease, anemia, appendix condition, depression
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18121030
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 18121030.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Denied
The Veteran's depression was rated at 50 percent prior to July 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. For TDIU, the Veteran had multiple service-connected disabilities but his education and work experience were sufficient for sedentary or light labor employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's depression was rated at 50 percent prior to September 27, 2017. From September 27, 2017, the rating for depression increased to 70 percent.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
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