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 assigned
- 10%
- 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18140725.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for claims related to an increased rating and service connection, as well as lack of jurisdiction over a previously granted claim for sinusitis.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial 100 percent rating for impairment of rectal sphincter control and special monthly compensation (SMC(l)) based on aid and attendance/housebound due to the same condition, effective August 14, 2018.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, denied an initial compensable rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction, and readjudicated the claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right hand numbness based on new evidence. The remaining claims were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for diarrhea as a secondary condition to PTSD and denied service connection for pain in multiple joints and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.
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