The Board denied service connection for a GI disorder and denied special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support direct service connection for the GI disorder, as there was no in-service diagnosis or treatment. The Veteran's psychiatric disability (schizoaffective disorder) was found to be unrelated to his current GI disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastrointestinal (GI) disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20035057
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 20035057.
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 an acquired psychiatric disorder, OSA, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and a GI disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions during the appeal period. The claims were denied based on the lack of medical evidence supporting current diagnoses.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), and chronic sinusitis are all granted. The GI disorder claim is denied as there is no evidence of an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness related to service. Service connection for chronic sinusitis is also denied due to the absence of a diagnosis during the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected GI disorder, manifested by moderate irritable colon syndrome with frequent episodes of bowel disturbance and abdominal distress, is granted an initial 10 percent disability rating.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions. The claims will be reviewed with new medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation of the claimed conditions.
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