The Veteran was granted earlier effective dates for the ratings of her service-connected IBS and major depressive disorder, with an effective date of February 5, 2023, for the IBS rating and April 1, 2023, for the major depressive disorder rating.
The deciding factor: The Board resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran by finding that it was factually ascertainable that her symptoms met or more nearly approximated the criteria for a higher rating within the one-year period prior to the date she filed her intent to file on December 28, 2023.
- Claimed conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Major Depressive Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25035864
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.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, effective October 24, 2017. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to the need for a more comprehensive medical examination and opinion.
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