The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's impairment of rectal sphincter control, finding that her condition was aggravated by an in-service episiotomy and is not due to any other factors.
The deciding factor: The private physician provided a medical opinion concluding that the Veteran's in-service episiotomy aggravated her pre-existing fecal incontinence beyond its natural progression.
- Claimed conditions
- Impairment of rectal sphincter control
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20019860
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20019860.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected impairment of rectal sphincter control is granted a 60 percent rating, effective December 10, 2017. The claim for TDIU is granted.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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