The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome/gastrointestinal disorder, previously denied as diarrhea bowel condition, has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence submitted raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim due to presumptive exposure to Gulf War illness.
The deciding factor: The Veteran served in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Persian Gulf War and was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome/gastrointestinal disorder, which is presumed to be causally related to his service.
- Claimed conditions
- irritable bowel syndrome/gastrointestinal disorder (previously claimed as diarrhea bowel condition), diarrhea
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2023
- Citation
- 23037823
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 23037823.
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 decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination reports and internal inconsistencies in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms, including IBS, constipation, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids, need further evaluation.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for diarrhea, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.
- Granted
The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroenteritis, IBS, and diarrhea, are found to be related to her active service. The issues of separate ratings for bulimia and unspecified anxiety disorder are also granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was denied, while the Veteran's claim for service connection for diarrhea as secondary to his service-connected idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was granted.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.