The Board denied the claims for service connection for gastrointestinal (GI) tract disability due to service-connected hemorrhoidectomy, granted the claim for the cause of the Veteran’s death, and denied the TDIU claim.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found that the GI tract disabilities were less likely than not related to the Veteran's military service or caused by his service-connected hemorrhoidectomy. The Board also noted that the service-connected GERD was listed as a comorbid cause of death, but did not contribute substantially and materially to it.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastrointestinal (GI) tract disability, Diarrhea, Impairment of rectal sphincter control
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18140725
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18140725.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected impairment of rectal sphincter control is granted a 60 percent rating, effective December 10, 2017. The claim for TDIU is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist, and he is recharacterized as having symptoms related to environmental exposures in Southwest Asia. The Board finds that an examination is required given the indication of a possible relationship between his symptoms and military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for diarrhea, claimed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), due to insufficient medical opinions addressing its relationship to service. The Veteran's claims for CFS and COPD remain denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete analysis of service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and objective indications of a disability manifested by diarrhea. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether IBS or any diagnosed gastrointestinal disability is related to the Veteran's in-service Gulf War exposure.
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