The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder and other specified depressive disorder now with major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (psychiatric disorder) have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for IBS has also been denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran’s psychiatric symptoms warrant a higher than 70 percent disability rating, as she is able to work full time and obtain a doctorate degree. The Veteran's occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas (such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood) does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.,The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran’s IBS warrants a higher than 30 percent disability rating. The symptoms of severe IBS with diarrhea, alternating diarrhea and constipation, and more or less constant abdominal distress are fully contemplated by the current 30 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, other specified depressive disorder now with major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (psychiatric disorder), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19174414
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 19174414.
What this means for you
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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 due to errors in the AOJ's handling of the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, and depression. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtain medical opinions regarding the diagnoses and their relation to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee meniscal tear, and IBS, have rendered him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful employment from May 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021. The Board finds that the evidence is in balance, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his IBS, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a moderate or severe condition as defined by VA regulations.
- Granted
The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for service-connected vitamin D deficiency, finding that the Veteran's recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea most closely approximates the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 6313. The claim for service connection for IBS was not addressed in this decision.
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