The Board has remanded the service connection claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and is considering any evidence not previously considered. The Veteran's IBS claim was denied as there is no current diagnosis of IBS in the record. The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae with residual scarring was combined with scars to the face associated with pseudofolliculitis barbae, and a 10% rating has been assigned since January 8, 2021.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of IBS in the Veteran's case. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for an IBS diagnosis as outlined by medical literature and screening tools provided by private providers. The combined rating was appropriate given the predominant disability being scars to the face.
- Claimed conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pseudofolliculitis Barbae with Residual Scars to the Face
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2024
- Citation
- A24082787
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 A24082787.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee meniscal tear, and IBS, have rendered him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful employment from May 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021. The Board finds that the evidence is in balance, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his IBS, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a moderate or severe condition as defined by VA regulations.
- Granted
The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for service-connected vitamin D deficiency, finding that the Veteran's recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea most closely approximates the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 6313. The claim for service connection for IBS was not addressed in this decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's IBS with GERD was granted an initial 60 percent rating. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and development.
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