The Veteran's claims for bowel disorder, radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve, lumbar IVDS, and PTSD with anxiety, adjustment disorder, and depression have all been denied.,The case is also remanded to address the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) and urinary incontinence.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence does not support a current diagnosis of bowel disorder or leakage. The Veteran's statements about having such a condition are less probative than those made to his medical providers.,For radiculopathy, the Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms more closely approximated moderately severe incomplete paralysis rather than complete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- Bowel Disorder, Radiculopathy of the Right Sciatic Nerve, Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Anxiety, Adjustment Disorder, and Depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20028740
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 20028740.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 claim for TDIU was denied prior to March 17, 2017 due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities. From March 17, 2017, the Veteran has been granted a TDIU based solely on his service-connected orthopedic disabilities.,The Veteran is now eligible for SMC at the housebound rate since November 22, 2017 due to his combined rating of 100 percent and other service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve have been granted increased ratings.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerves have been granted initial evaluations, with a focus on the lumbar spine and bilateral sciatica. The evaluations are effective from October 16, 2013.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's kidney disorder and heart disorder were denied as not related to service.,The Veteran's bowel disorder and headaches were remanded for further evaluation.
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