IBS and IBD VA Claims Guide
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) are different conditions that the VA service-connects and rates in very different ways. This guide explains the plain-English difference, how service connection works at a high level, the service-connection paths for each (including the Gulf War presumptive that can cover IBS with no nexus, and the toxic-exposure paths for IBD), the current rating criteria under the 2024 schedule, the increase opportunity that 2024 created, the evidence that actually wins these claims, why claims get denied, a filing checklist, the claims process step by step, and what to do whether you win or you're denied.
Overview
IBS is rated under DC 7319, Crohn's disease under DC 7326, and ulcerative colitis under DC 7323, all within 38 CFR § 4.114 (Schedule of Ratings, Digestive System). Chronic constipation and irritable colon are closely related bowel problems that can be evaluated the same way. Whether you already have a diagnosis or are just starting to work one up, the path that gets you service-connected, and the size of the rating once you're there, depends heavily on which of these conditions you actually have.
IBS vs IBD: Why the Difference Matters
These two get confused constantly, but for a VA claim the distinction changes everything about how you prove service connection.
IBS (functional)
Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder: the gut does not work right, but scopes and biopsies look normal. There is no visible damage or inflammation. Symptoms are abdominal pain tied to bowel movements, plus changes in stool frequency or form, urgency, bloating. Rated under diagnostic code 7319.
IBD (structural / autoimmune)
Inflammatory bowel disease, meaning Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a structural, autoimmune disease with real, visible inflammation and tissue damage confirmed on endoscopy. It is more severe and can require immunosuppressants, biologics, hospitalization, or surgery. Crohn's is rated under DC 7326, ulcerative colitis under DC 7323.
How Service Connection Works, At a High Level
Before getting into the specific pathways below, it helps to understand the three things nearly every bowel claim ultimately has to show. This is the same basic test that applies to any VA disability claim, just applied to these conditions.
- A current diagnosis. A diagnosed bowel condition, now or during your claim. This is the element that trips up the most claims: a claim built around a bowel condition that was never formally diagnosed, with no exam even ordered to confirm one, gets denied on this element alone.
- An in-service cause, or qualifying service. Something in service that could have caused the condition, such as documented bowel symptoms, or qualifying Persian Gulf/Southwest Asia service that triggers a presumption under 38 CFR § 3.317.
- A medical nexus, or a presumption in its place. Normally a doctor connects the condition to service. For qualifying Persian Gulf veterans, IBS can instead be presumed related to service with no nexus opinion at all.
What VA Looks For: Tests, Records, and Diagnostic Codes
Whether you are filing under the Gulf War presumptive, directly, or secondary to another condition, the record VA actually reviews centers on a small set of documents and data points.
- A written diagnosis: a treating provider's note or a colonoscopy/endoscopy and biopsy report identifying IBS, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or another specific bowel diagnosis. A diagnosis in writing, obtained before you file, is the single most common missing item in denied claims.
- Service and qualifying-location records: for the Gulf War presumptive, documentation of Southwest Asia or Persian Gulf service; for a direct claim, service treatment records noting bowel symptoms, stomach trouble, or diarrhea during service.
- The diagnostic codes involved: DC 7319 for IBS, DC 7326 for Crohn's disease, DC 7323 for ulcerative colitis, plus whatever code applies to a condition you're connecting it to, for example DC 9411 (PTSD) for the gut-brain-axis pathway.
- The actual form the examiner fills out: the intestinal-conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), discussed in more detail later in this guide.
- A symptom diary: because both the IBS and IBD rating levels turn on how often symptoms happen (episodes per week or per month for IBS; diarrhea episodes per day for IBD), a dated record of frequency is one of the most concrete things a rater can act on.
How Each Gets Service Connected
IBS, the Gulf War presumptive (38 CFR § 3.317)
For veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater (the Persian Gulf), IBS is recognized as a functional gastrointestinal disorder, one of the "medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses" (MUCMIs) presumed related to Gulf War service under 38 USC § 1117 and 1118. A qualifying Gulf War veteran does not need a nexus opinion linking IBS to service. The link is presumed if the condition appears to the required degree, and the PACT Act (effective August 10, 2022) removed the old requirement that the illness reach a certain severity by a certain date. This is the single biggest advantage in an IBS claim, and it is available for chronic constipation and other functional gastrointestinal disorders too, not only a formal IBS diagnosis. A negative VA exam opinion pointing to some other cause does not, by itself, defeat the presumption; the presumption is designed to cover conditions medical evidence cannot fully explain, so an alternate theory in the exam report is not automatically fatal on its own. See the presumptive check and toxic-exposure appeal data.
If you are not a Gulf War veteran, IBS is claimed by the normal three-part path (current diagnosis, in-service event or onset, and a nexus connecting them), or as a secondary condition.
The undiagnosed-symptoms route: no IBS diagnosis required
Section 3.317 has two doors, and IBS uses only one of them. The first door is a diagnosed medically unexplained illness, which is where IBS itself sits. The second door is an undiagnosed illness: a qualifying Gulf War veteran with objective indications of chronic functional gastrointestinal symptoms lasting six months or more can be service-connected with no formal diagnosis at all, as long as the symptoms are not attributed to a known cause. The regulation names gastrointestinal signs and symptoms directly (38 CFR 3.317(b)).
The symptoms raters most often map to a digestive diagnostic code include abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, bloating, nausea, indigestion, and postprandial fullness. Symptoms below the stomach tend to be coded to DC 7319 (IBS); upper-tract symptoms such as substernal burning tend to share the GERD code. The symptoms carry the claim under 3.317, so a missing diagnosis is not fatal to a Gulf War claim.
IBD, direct and toxic-exposure paths
Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are claimed:
- Directly: diagnosis, in-service onset or symptoms, and a medical nexus.
- Through toxic exposure (TERA): burn pits, airborne hazards, Gulf War service, or Camp Lejeune contaminated water. The Board has granted IBD as related to a toxic exposure risk activity when the evidence shows exposure and a medical link. See PACT Act and toxic-exposure appeals.
- As a residual: after treatment for a related cancer or surgery. See cancer residuals.
Secondary via the gut-brain axis (mental health to gut)
Service-connected PTSD, anxiety, or depression can cause or worsen IBS. This is a well-documented secondary path, recognized medically as the gut-brain axis, chronic stress and hypervigilance affect gut motility and sensitivity. See the PTSD guide and service connection.
Secondary via medication
Long-term NSAIDs or other drugs taken for a service-connected condition can aggravate the GI tract and cause or worsen bowel symptoms. This is an intermediate-step theory under 38 CFR § 3.310: the service-connected condition leads to the prescribed medication, and the medication causes or aggravates the bowel condition. A nexus opinion should name the specific medication and the mechanism.
Secondary to surgery or treatment for a service-connected condition
When surgery performed for an already service-connected condition, for example an appendectomy or other bowel surgery tied to a service-connected diagnosis, causes or worsens a separate bowel condition such as IBS, that chain can support secondary service connection under 38 CFR § 3.310. This is a documented, if less commonly discussed, secondary pathway distinct from the gut-brain-axis and medication routes above.
How the VA Rates IBS, Diagnostic Code 7319
DC 7319 was rewritten effective March 20, 2024. Every level requires abdominal pain related to defecation plus two or more of these symptoms: change in stool frequency, change in stool form, altered passage (straining or urgency), mucorrhea, abdominal bloating, or subjective distension. The rating then turns on how often the pain occurs.
30% is the highest schedular rating for IBS. Under the criteria in effect immediately before this rewrite, the top level described severe symptoms, diarrhea, or alternating diarrhea and constipation, with more or less constant abdominal distress; the frequency-based test above is what raters now apply, but describing severe, near-daily symptoms in your own words still supports the highest tier. The frequency of the pain is what moves you between levels, so a symptom diary that records how often it happens matters.
- What the VA measures at your C&P exam
- Evidence that has won at the Board
- Inside the rater's playbook: grant, denial, and remand rates
- Secondary condition map
How the VA Rates IBD: Crohn's (7326) and Ulcerative Colitis (7323)
The 2024 schedule gave Crohn's its own code (DC 7326) and rewrote ulcerative colitis (DC 7323). They share the same rating ladder, which keys off severity, what treatment controls it, and signs of systemic toxicity. The diagnosis must be confirmed by endoscopy or radiologic study.
For the full per-condition breakdown, see the dedicated Crohn's disease guide and ulcerative colitis guide. Celiac disease, a separate autoimmune digestive condition rated under DC 7355, has its own celiac disease guide.
Crohn's Disease (DC 7326)
- What the VA measures at your C&P exam
- Evidence that has won at the Board
- Inside the rater's playbook: grant, denial, and remand rates
- Secondary condition map
Ulcerative Colitis (DC 7323)
Ulcerative colitis uses the same rating ladder as Crohn's under the 2024 schedule.
- What the VA measures at your C&P exam
- Evidence that has won at the Board
- Inside the rater's playbook: grant, denial, and remand rates
- Secondary condition map
The 2024 Change, and the Increase Opportunity It Created
Before 2024, Crohn's disease had no dedicated diagnostic code. It was rated by analogy, usually under ulcerative colitis (7323). The 2024 amendment created DC 7326 for Crohn's and inflammatory bowel disease and rewrote the criteria for both 7326 and 7323.
Pyramiding: One GI Disability, Not Several
The digestive-system rules (38 CFR 4.113 and 4.114) limit stacking overlapping abdominal conditions. The VA generally will not pay you separately for IBS and IBD when the symptoms overlap. It rates the predominant disability. You also cannot collect twice for the same symptom under two codes; this is why a claim can be denied when the bowel symptoms being claimed as IBS are already the symptoms an existing service-connected condition (for example fibromyalgia, which is itself recognized as sometimes including irritable bowel symptoms) is already rated on. This is the pyramiding rule. It does not stop you from being separately rated for genuinely distinct conditions (for example, a service-connected mental health condition that is also causing the IBS).
Evidence That Wins These Claims
- A confirmed diagnosis. For IBD, endoscopy or imaging is part of the rating criteria, so the colonoscopy/biopsy report matters. For IBS, the diagnosis plus the documented symptom pattern is what counts. Get this in writing before you file, not after; claims are routinely denied where no current diagnosis was ever established and no exam was even ordered to look for one.
- The right Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ). The intestinal-conditions DBQ captures the exact criteria (episode frequency, diarrhea per day, toxicity signs, treatment type). See the DBQ guide.
- Treatment records that name the medication. Especially for IBD, whether you are on a biologic or immunosuppressant is built into the 60% level.
- A symptom diary. IBS levels turn on how often the pain happens. IBD levels turn on diarrhea episodes per day. A dated log makes the frequency concrete, and consistent reporting of symptoms to your treating providers over time, rather than gaps or denials of symptoms in the record, supports your credibility if the claim is later contested.
- Hospitalization records for IBD, which feed the 100% level.
- Your Gulf War / Southwest Asia service record, stated plainly on the claim, if you qualify. This is the fastest route to service connection for IBS and functional bowel symptoms and should not be overlooked in favor of a harder direct or secondary theory.
- A nexus letter if you are not using the Gulf War presumptive, or a buddy/lay statement on continuity of symptoms since service. A veteran's own opinion about what caused the condition is not, on its own, treated as a substitute for a medical nexus; the causation question for a complex internal condition is treated as one for a medical professional to answer. See nexus letters and buddy statements.
Why These Claims Get Denied
Beyond the general three-part test covered above, a few specific denial patterns show up often enough in published decisions to call out on their own.
- No current diagnosis in the record. A bowel-symptom claim with no diagnosis of IBS, irritable colon, or another specific condition, and no exam ordered to establish one, is denied on this element alone regardless of how the rest of the evidence looks.
- Non-qualifying service, judged on ordinary rules. A veteran without Southwest Asia or Persian Gulf service does not get the 3.317 presumption. The claim is then judged on the ordinary nexus rules like any other condition, and without a supporting medical opinion, it fails.
- The presumption claimed for a structural condition. The Gulf War presumption covers functional gut disorders, not structural ones. A structural diagnosis such as GERD does not qualify for the presumption, even for a veteran with qualifying Gulf War service.
- The same symptoms already counted under another condition. Where bowel symptoms being claimed as IBS are already a documented feature of an existing service-connected condition, such as fibromyalgia's recognized association with irritable bowel symptoms, the claim can be denied under the pyramiding rule rather than paid twice.
- The veteran's own belief about the cause, without a doctor's opinion behind it. A veteran can describe symptoms accurately, but is not treated as competent to supply the medical nexus opinion on a complex causation question. A personal opinion that service (or a specific secondary condition) caused the bowel condition, without a supporting medical opinion, does not carry the claim.
- A secondary theory built on a medication, without tying the specific drug to the specific diagnosis. Naming that a medication is taken for a service-connected condition is not the same as a medical opinion connecting that medication to the bowel condition being claimed; a secondary theory built around medication use has failed where that link was never actually drawn.
- Gaps or denials of symptoms across years of records. When treatment records show long stretches with no bowel complaints, or the veteran told providers at the time that symptoms were absent, the Board can find a later account not fully credible and side with a negative exam finding.
- Expecting a rating above the schedular maximum. 30 percent is the ceiling for IBS under DC 7319; a request for a higher percentage on IBS alone is denied as a matter of law, no matter how severe the symptoms, unless a separate, additional condition is also in play.
Pitfalls and Common Mistakes
Patterns the published DC 7319 decisions flag most often. Among the Board's service-connection denials for IBS, a missing medical nexus is the single largest reason.
- No nexus opinion in the file. A missing nexus is the leading service-connection denial reason for DC 7319. For a non-Gulf War veteran, a medical opinion connecting IBS to service or to a service-connected primary is the document the Board most often finds absent.
- Skipping the Gulf War presumptive. For a qualifying Southwest Asia veteran, IBS can be granted under 38 CFR 3.317 with no nexus opinion. Filing IBS by the ordinary three-part path and then being denied for no nexus overlooks the presumptive that the same veteran qualified for. Say clearly on the claim itself that you served in the Gulf, don't assume the record speaks for itself.
- No record of how often the pain occurs. The DC 7319 levels turn on whether abdominal pain related to defecation happens at least one day per month, three days per month, or one day per week. Records that describe symptoms without the frequency leave the rater without the fact that sets the percentage.
- Claiming IBS and IBD as separate ratings. The digestive-system rules (38 CFR 4.113 and 4.114) rate the predominant disability when GI symptoms overlap. Expecting a separate percentage for IBS on top of an IBD rating runs into the pyramiding rule.
- Not requesting reopening the right way after a prior denial. A previously denied bowel claim can be reopened with new and relevant evidence, such as a supportive medical statement or a new diagnosis, under a Supplemental Claim. Filing a bare repeat of the same evidence, instead of something new, does not move the claim forward.
- Assuming benefits start on the date symptoms began. The effective date for a bowel-claim grant is ordinarily the date VA received the claim or a valid intent to file, not the date symptoms first appeared, which surprises veterans who file long after symptoms started.
Do's and Don'ts
A condensed version of everything above, in the order it actually matters when you sit down to build your file.
- Get a current, written diagnosis of IBS or IBD from a medical provider before you rely on the claim.
- If you served in the Persian Gulf or Southwest Asia, say so plainly and claim IBS as a Gulf War presumptive illness.
- Point out, if it comes up, that a negative VA exam opinion does not by itself defeat a presumptive claim.
- Collect service records showing any bowel symptoms, stomach trouble, or diarrhea during service.
- Ask whether a secondary claim fits: a service-connected mental health condition, surgery, or medication that affects your bowel.
- Tell your doctors about your bowel symptoms at every visit so your records stay consistent.
- Keep a simple, dated symptom diary noting how often you have diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.
- Give specific numbers, not general descriptions, when you seek a higher rating.
- If you were denied before, file a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) with new and relevant evidence.
- Don't assume every bowel claim gets the Gulf War presumption; it requires qualifying Persian Gulf or Southwest Asia service.
- Don't expect a structural condition like GERD to get the IBS functional-disorder presumption.
- Don't file the same bowel symptoms twice under different names when they're already counted in another rated condition, that's pyramiding.
- Don't rely on your own opinion that service (or a secondary condition) caused your IBS, causation is treated as a medical question.
- Don't let there be long gaps in your records, or tell a provider you have no symptoms when you do, it can undercut your credibility later.
- Don't expect a rating higher than 30 percent for IBS alone, that's the schedular maximum under DC 7319.
- Don't assume your benefits start on the date symptoms began, the effective date is normally tied to your filing date.
Common Secondary Conditions
These are the conditions most often linked with IBS in the Board's published decisions. Each bar is the BVA grant rate for DC 7319, with the number of decisions below it. They describe what the Board's record shows across many veterans, not a prediction about any one claim.
Conditions that can cause IBS (IBS as the secondary)
Claims where IBS was argued as secondary to an already service-connected condition, for example a mental health condition through the gut-brain axis. This is the "ways to connect via another condition" list, and it's usually the easier route into a grant when the Gulf War presumptive doesn't apply:
Conditions IBS can cause (IBS as the primary)
Conditions veterans have claimed as caused or aggravated by a service-connected IBS, in other words, conditions secondary to IBS once IBS itself is already service-connected:
Quick Checklist Before You File
Bring these together before you submit anything.
- A current, written diagnosis of IBS or IBD from a medical provider.
- If you served in the Persian Gulf or Southwest Asia, say so plainly and claim IBS as a Gulf War presumptive illness.
- Service records showing any bowel symptoms, stomach trouble, or diarrhea during service.
- Whether a secondary claim fits, if a service-connected condition, surgery, or medication affects your bowel.
- Consistent reporting of your bowel symptoms to your doctors at every visit.
- A simple symptom diary noting how often you have diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.
- If you were denied before: new and relevant evidence for a Supplemental Claim, not just a repeat of what was already considered.
For the mechanics of actually submitting the claim, see the Standard Claim Guide and the Fully Developed Claim Guide (filing with all your evidence up front can speed up the decision).
The Claims Process, Step by Step
Once you file, your claim moves through a series of hand-offs. Understanding who does what helps you know who to contact, and what to expect, at each stage.
- You file the claim. Directly with VA, through VA.gov, or with the help of an accredited representative.
- VA acknowledges the claim and assigns it for development. A Veteran Service Representative (VSR) is assigned to gather your service treatment records, VA and private medical records, and any other evidence needed.
- The VSR orders a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam if one is needed. Not every claim requires one, but most IBS and IBD claims do, especially where a diagnosis or nexus opinion is still needed.
- The C&P exam is conducted. By a VA clinician or a contracted examiner, who completes a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) documenting the diagnosis, severity, and, where relevant, a nexus opinion.
- The file goes to a Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR), the "rater." The rater reviews the complete file, including the exam results, and decides whether service connection is warranted and at what percentage.
- A senior reviewer may review the decision before it's finalized, depending on the complexity of the claim.
- VA issues the decision letter. This states whether the claim is granted or denied, the rating percentage if granted, and the reasons behind the decision.
- If you disagree, you choose an appeal lane. Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, or a Board appeal, covered later in this guide.
Who's who: VSO vs. VSR vs. Rater vs. C&P Examiner
Your VSO
An accredited representative from a veterans service organization, or an accredited attorney or claims agent. Not a VA employee. Helps you prepare, gather evidence, and file, and can represent you through an appeal. Has no authority to decide your claim.
VSR (Veteran Service Representative)
VA staff who "develops" your claim: requests records, schedules the C&P exam, and assembles the file. Does not decide the rating.
Rater (RVSR)
VA staff who reviews the completed file and makes the actual decision, service connection or denial, and the percentage. This is the person whose judgment the decision letter reflects.
C&P Examiner
A VA clinician or a contracted medical examiner who conducts the exam and completes the DBQ. Documents findings and, where asked, a nexus opinion. Does not decide the claim.
For the full walkthrough of every stage with more detail, see Inside Your Claim and Claim Stages.
DBQs and Your C&P Exam
A Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is the standardized form an examiner completes for your condition, it structures the exam findings into the specific data points VA's rating schedule requires (for IBS and IBD, that includes symptom frequency, diarrhea episodes per day, toxicity signs, and treatment type). See the DBQ Guide for how these forms work, including whether a private DBQ completed by your own doctor can be submitted instead of relying solely on a VA exam.
Before your C&P exam, bring a clear, specific account of your symptoms and their frequency, focus on your worst days and how the condition affects daily function, not just how you feel on an average day. Be consistent with what's already in your medical records and prior statements. For a full walkthrough of what to expect and how to prepare, see the C&P Exam Prep Guide.
Reading Your Decision Letter, and What to Do If Denied
Your decision letter has two parts: a narrative section explaining the reasoning (often called "reasons and bases"), and a codesheet showing the actual rating percentage, the effective date, and the diagnostic code used. See the Reading Your Decision Letter Guide for how to find and interpret each part, or use the Letter Interpreter tool to upload your own letter and get a plain-English breakdown.
If your claim is denied, or the rating is lower than you expected, you have three main lanes:
- Supplemental Claim: refile with new and relevant evidence, such as a new nexus opinion, an updated diagnosis, or a supportive medical statement. A previously denied IBS claim has been reopened and sent back for a new exam this way. See Supplemental Claim Guide.
- Higher-Level Review (HLR): a senior reviewer looks at the same evidence again for a difference of opinion, no new evidence is added. See HLR Guide.
- Board Appeal: your case goes to a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals, with options for a direct review, an evidence docket, or a hearing. See Board Appeal Guide.
Not sure which lane fits your situation? See the Appeals decision guide for a side-by-side comparison of all three.
After You Win: Rating, Effective Date, and Maintaining Your Rating
A grant is not always the end of the story. The date your benefits start (the effective date) is usually the date VA received your claim or a valid intent to file, not the date your symptoms began, so filing promptly matters. If your IBD worsens, or is now controlled by a biologic or immunosuppressant that wasn't accounted for in an earlier rating, you can file for an increased evaluation rather than assume the higher rating applies automatically. See the Rating Increase Guide.
Keep your treatment consistent, ongoing records from a gastroenterologist or treating provider, symptom frequency notes, and documentation of any medication changes, protects you if VA schedules a future reexamination. Not every rating gets reexamined; understand when a rating becomes protected from future review (including Permanent and Total status) and what to do if VA proposes to reduce it. See Protect Your Rating and Future Reexaminations for the specifics.
Quick Reference Tables
Service Connection Pathways
| Pathway | Applies To | Evidence Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf War presumptive (38 CFR § 3.317) | IBS and other functional GI disorders, qualifying Southwest Asia/Persian Gulf service | Service record showing qualifying location; no nexus opinion required |
| Direct service connection | IBS, Crohn's, ulcerative colitis | Diagnosis + in-service onset or symptoms + medical nexus |
| Toxic exposure (TERA / PACT Act) | Primarily IBD (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis) | Documented exposure (burn pits, Gulf War, Camp Lejeune) + medical nexus |
| Secondary, gut-brain axis | IBS secondary to PTSD, anxiety, or depression (DC 9411 and others) | Nexus opinion linking the mental health condition to the bowel symptoms |
| Secondary, medication | Either, aggravated by drugs (e.g. NSAIDs) taken for another service-connected condition | Nexus opinion naming the specific medication and mechanism |
| Secondary, surgery/treatment | IBS or IBD following surgery for a service-connected condition | Records of the surgery + nexus opinion tying it to the bowel condition |
From Filing to Decision: Who Does What
| Role | Does | Decides your rating? |
|---|---|---|
| VSO / accredited representative | Helps prepare, gather evidence, and file; represents you on appeal | No |
| VSR | Develops the claim: orders records and the C&P exam | No |
| C&P Examiner | Conducts the exam, completes the DBQ, may give a nexus opinion | No / but has a strong impact |
| Rater (RVSR) | Reviews the full file and decides service connection and percentage | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IBS a Gulf War presumptive condition?
Is Crohn's or ulcerative colitis a Gulf War presumptive?
What is the highest rating for IBS?
I was rated for Crohn's before 2024. Should I do anything?
Can I get rated for both IBS and IBD?
My scope was normal but I still have symptoms. Can I still get rated?
Does a negative VA exam opinion end a Gulf War presumptive claim?
When does my effective date start once I'm granted?
Sources
- 38 CFR § 4.114, Digestive System rating schedule, including Diagnostic Code 7319 (IBS, maximum 30 percent), 7326 (Crohn's disease), and 7323 (ulcerative colitis)
- 38 CFR § 3.303, basic service connection: current disability, in-service event, nexus
- 38 CFR § 3.317, and 38 USC § 1117 / 1118, Persian Gulf presumptive service connection for functional gastrointestinal disorders as medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses (MUCMIs)
- 38 CFR § 3.310, Secondary Service Connection
- 38 CFR § 3.307 and 38 CFR § 3.309, chronic disease presumptions
- 38 CFR § 4.14, avoiding pyramiding (no double counting of symptoms)
- 38 CFR § 3.400 and 38 USC § 5110; 38 CFR § 3.155, effective dates and intent to file
- 38 CFR § 3.2501, new and relevant evidence to reopen a claim (Supplemental Claim)
- 38 CFR § 3.102 and 38 USC § 5107(b), benefit of the doubt
- VA.gov, Gulf War illness (Southwest Asia)
- VA Public Health, medically unexplained illnesses (38 CFR 3.317)
- CCK Law, IBS rating (DC 7319)
- CCK Law, Crohn's rating (DC 7326)
This guide is educational, not legal or medical advice, and not a prediction of any individual claim outcome. Rating criteria change; confirm current details in 38 CFR 4.114. For help with your own claim, talk to a VA-accredited representative.