The Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status is denied because he does not meet the criteria for a single service-connected disability rated as 100% disabling or TDIU predicated solely on one service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's TDIU was not predicated solely on his bowel incontinence, and he has other service-connected disabilities that are separately rated. His combined disability rating is less than 100%, and he does not have additional disabilities independently ratable as at least 60% disabling.
- Claimed conditions
- bowel incontinence, IVDS (intervertebral disc syndrome)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 29, 2022
- Citation
- 22037597
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 22037597.
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 bowel incontinence is rated at 60 percent, but not more. The Board also granted a TDIU prior to January 18, 2013.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for bowel incontinence and residuals scarring associated with a colon biopsy are denied, as is his claim for service connection for chronic headaches. His claims for lumbosacral strain and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's back disability, rated at 40 percent since March 14, 2022, is granted effective from that date.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, and hypertension was denied. The rating for IVDS with bilateral facet arthropathy thoracolumbar spondylosis is not met as the evidence did not show forward flexion to 60 degrees or less, combined range of motion of 120 degrees or less, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour, or ankylosis (or its functional equivalent).,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathies were not met as the evidence did not show at least moderate incomplete paralysis of the femoral nerve or sciatic nerve. The rating for hypertension was also denied.
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