The Veteran's initial 10 percent disability rating for IBS is granted. The issues of increased disability ratings for various hand and hip conditions are withdrawn.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms most closely approximated moderate disability with frequent episodes of bowel disturbance, warranting a 10% disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Painful Scar, Intergluteal Cleft, Left Hand Strain (Little Finger), Right Hand Strain (Little Finger), Left Hip Strain (Flexion), Left Hip Strain (Impairment), Scar Intergluteal Cleft, Status Post Pilonidal Cyst Drainage
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 20, 2026
- Citation
- A26004680
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 A26004680.
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'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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