The Veteran's claims for service connection for rectal bleeding and other specified anxiety with alcohol use disorder were reopened.,Service connection was granted for status post multiple surgical procedures for rectal abscess and fistula and rectal incontinence (claimed as rectal bleeding), an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder with psychotic features and generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder secondary to major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and chronic pain from recurring rectal fistula.
The deciding factor: The Veteran provided detailed testimony regarding his service stressors in particular, which provided much more detail than what was documented in the December 2014 VA examination. The private medical opinions submitted by the Veteran also supported the claims for service connection.,Private physician Dr. F.G. provided a positive nexus opinion linking the Veteran's rectal condition to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- rectal bleeding, anxiety with alcohol use disorder, status post multiple surgical procedures for rectal abscess and fistula and rectal incontinence (claimed as rectal bleeding), acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder with psychotic features and generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 30, 2024
- Citation
- 24018409
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 24018409.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection of hemorrhoids with rectal bleeding is remanded due to the VA's failure to obtain a medical opinion on direct service connection and as related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).
- Granted
The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD and rectal bleeding, is found to be caused by his service-connected major depressive disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for rectal bleeding due to conflicting opinions and a need for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a bilateral eye disability (pinguecula and dry eye syndrome) on a direct basis, but dismissed claims for earlier effective dates and service connections for PTSD, rectal bleeding, left leg condition, and other neuropathies. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for the 50 percent rating for migraine headaches.
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