The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected colectomy, residuals of clostridium difficile, and ileostomy. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the initial disability rating issue.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms were not fully evaluated during the most recent VA examination, which may affect the severity determination of his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- colectomy, residuals of clostridium difficile, ileostomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20002777
Veterans Law Judge
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20002777.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 2, 2020, for the award of service connection for colostomy, ileostomy, rectal vaginal fistula, and small bowel obstruction (SBO) surgery was denied as there was no new and material evidence received within one year of the issuance of the December 2013 decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's ulcerative colitis and colectomy are remanded for a VA TERA examination to determine if they are related to service, particularly his exposure to asbestos and other toxins while serving as a Navy radioman.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ulcerative colitis, removal of large intestines, and ileostomy due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's ileostomy is not service-connected, so he does not qualify for a clothing allowance.
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