The appeal for service connection for chronic diarrhea claimed as Crohn's Disease is dismissed. The Veteran's digestive system disabilities, including GERD with hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus, are granted an initial rating of 60 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms have been productive of severe impairment of health, warranting the highest available schedular rating for his service-connected digestive system disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Diarrhea, Crohn's Disease (claimed as), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- September 14, 2023
- Citation
- 23050973
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 23050973.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected chronic diarrhea is remanded due to the inadequacy of the August 2020 examination report, which did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication on his condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's IBS and chronic diarrhea are found to be related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater, specifically his exposure to burn pits. The Board granted service connection for these conditions based on presumptive service connection under the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of March 16, 2022 for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), but denied an earlier effective date prior to July 12, 2024 for a higher 30 percent rating for chronic diarrhea.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for IBS and GERD with hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus to correct a duty to assist error.
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