The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for anal fissures and service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder were both denied. The Board found that the current symptoms of anal fissures do not warrant a compensable rating, and there is no evidence linking his current GI disorder to service.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a finding of a current disability or a link between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his claimed disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- anal fissures, GI disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19131723
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,162 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19131723.
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 anal fissures are granted as secondary to his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The initial rating for IBS is granted at 30 percent. The claim of service connection for hemorrhoids is remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the appellant's appeal, finding that his character of discharge from service is a bar to VA benefits due to willful and persistent misconduct. The Board also found no compelling circumstances to mitigate this misconduct.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the cases of hemorrhoids and anal fissures, as they are inextricably intertwined. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's hemorrhoids are related to his active service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.