The Veteran's claim for an initial increased disability rating for service-connected impairment of sphincter control is denied. The Board found that the evidence does not show extensive leakage and fairly frequent involuntary bowel movements, which are required for a higher disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7332. However, the Veteran was granted SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not demonstrate that the Veteran had complete loss of sphincter control or extensive leakage and fairly frequent involuntary bowel movements during the appellate period.
- Claimed conditions
- Impairment of sphincter control
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20054205
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 20054205.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of March 1, 2022 for the award of service connection for impairment of sphincter control as secondary to service-connected internal and external hemorrhoids with pruritus ani. The Veteran is also awarded a rating of 60 percent for this condition since March 1, 2022.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for service connection of depressive disorder, LLE weakness, and impairment of sphincter control is granted.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for MS is denied.,A 10 percent rating for CFS is granted.,A 50 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.,A 10 percent rating for migraines with visual disturbances is granted.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for LUE weakness is denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for RLE weakness is denied.,A 10 percent rating for LLE weakness is granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected Multiple Sclerosis resulted in a compensable rating and effective date of January 20, 2017. The awards for voiding dysfunction, swallowing difficulties, and impairment of sphincter control are also effective from that date.
- Granted
The Veteran's IBS is rated at 30 percent from March 5, 2019. Service connection for impairment of sphincter control secondary to service-connected IBS is granted.
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