The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period prior to March 8, 2023, and special monthly compensation (SMC) under the provisions of 38 USC § 1114(s)(1) for the period beginning August 10, 2022.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's IBS symptoms more nearly approximated frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress, and his service-connected psychiatric disability prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 8, 2023. Additionally, the Veteran had separate service-connected disabilities that were independently ratable as 60 percent or higher for the period beginning August 10, 2022.
- Claimed conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25022173
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of September 2, 2020, for the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but denied a higher initial rating and TDIU.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as there was no competent or credible evidence of a current diagnosis during the appellate period.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, except for a granted 30 percent rating for headache disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder and cervical pain but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also granted ratings of 10 percent or 20 percent for several conditions from specific dates.
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