The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s IBS is less likely than not related to service due to lack of documented gastrointestinal issues during active duty and the absence of any medical opinion linking his post-service symptoms to his in-service complaints.
- Claimed conditions
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20031084
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 20031084.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), finding that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a separate grant of service connection for GERD, as a residual of her cholecystectomy, is granted effective May 19, 2024. The claims for increased ratings for cholecystectomy residuals and esophageal spasms are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's GERD with IBS is rated at 30 percent effective April 21, 2020. The Board found the symptoms of severe diarrhea and more or less constant abdominal distress meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for GERD, IBS, and TBI due to a duty to assist error in failing to schedule VA examinations and obtain medical opinions.
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