The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his internal hemorrhoids, rectal sphincter control, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.
The deciding factor: The decision was not about service connection but rather about the appropriate rating and whether certain conditions are related to service. The issues of rating and service connection need further clarification and evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Impairment of rectal sphincter control, Internal hemorrhoids
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19186891
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 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 service connection for several conditions, including PTSD, bilateral pes planus with left plantar calcaneal spur, atopic dermatitis, and left hip trochanteric bursitis. However, the Board granted service connection for asthma due to presumed exposure during Gulf War service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance is granted due to his service-connected disabilities, including bowel incontinence.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection for impairment of rectal sphincter control and anterior trunk scar painful, as the persuasive weight of the evidence does not support that these disabilities arose prior to May 10, 2022.
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