The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for fecal incontinence as secondary to service-connected IBS. The issue of whether the Veteran's IBS warrants a higher than 10 percent rating is remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran experiences involuntary bowel movements necessitating the need for wearing a pad, which would warrant a higher rating under DC 7332.
- Claimed conditions
- IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Fecal Incontinence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19149313
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for various conditions including a left knee disability, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, IBS, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right great toe bunionectomy, service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia (claimed as joint pain), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for a skin condition that is etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected fecal incontinence is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for fecal incontinence from May 28, 2013 to June 26, 2018 was denied as the evidence did not show extensive leakage or fairly frequent involuntary bowel movements.
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