The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his pilonidal cyst and anal fistula, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since November 21, 2013.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's chronic pain, poor sphincter tone, and loss of control over bowel movements prevented him from engaging in sedentary or physical labor that would be consistent with his educational background and prior occupational experience.
- Claimed conditions
- anal fistula, pilonidal cyst
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20046227
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 20046227.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not currently addressed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including insufficient notice and rescheduling of VA examinations. The Veteran is required to attend new VA examinations.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for chloracne with pilonidal cyst associated with TERA participation was denied, and the claim for an effective date prior to July 29, 2024, for service connection was also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's daughter, including a claim for anal fistula, right knee injury residuals, left ear hearing loss, and valvular heart disease. The decision also notes that no fiduciary was appointed on behalf of the Appellant due to her adoption.
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