The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his bowel condition (IBS and GERD) was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as they were not severe enough to warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition was not addressed due to it being previously denied by the Board and not appealed to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was also denied as he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s bowel condition symptoms were found to be less severe than required by the applicable rating criteria, thus preventing him from receiving a higher disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Hiatal Hernia with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 5, 2020
- Citation
- A20015216
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,104 · Granted: 28% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A20015216.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's IBS with GERD was granted an initial 60 percent rating. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and development.
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