The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for irritable bowel syndrome and lumbosacral strain, as well as remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating for IBS or lumbosacral strain based on the severity of symptoms reported. The Veteran's IBS was found to be more severe than moderate but not severe enough to warrant a 60% rating, and his lumbosacral strain did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Lumbosacral Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 8, 2025
- Citation
- A25041966
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain.
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