BVA decisions by condition
Ulcerative colitis: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a ulcerative colitis issue in 1,210 decisions. It granted the ulcerative colitis issue in 21.8% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 28.8%, and remanded it in 47.4%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 43.1% were granted.
Decisions
1,210
2017–2026
Granted
21.8%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
43.1%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
47.4%
Denied: 28.8%
Ulcerative colitis outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 81 | 13.6% | 38.3% | 43.2% | 4.9% |
| 2018 | 134 | 9.7% | 36.6% | 51.5% | 2.2% |
| 2019 | 159 | 17.6% | 29.6% | 49.1% | 3.8% |
| 2020 | 131 | 22.1% | 38.9% | 37.4% | 1.5% |
| 2021 | 134 | 23.1% | 27.6% | 46.3% | 3.0% |
| 2022 | 126 | 22.2% | 28.6% | 46.8% | 2.4% |
| 2023 | 145 | 26.2% | 20.7% | 48.3% | 4.8% |
| 2024 | 128 | 26.6% | 21.9% | 50.0% | 1.6% |
| 2025 | 142 | 31.0% | 23.2% | 43.0% | 2.8% |
| 2026 | 52 | 23.1% | 17.3% | 57.7% | 1.9% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 50 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied ulcerative colitis decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the ulcerative colitis issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treating physician opinion | 124 | 73.7% | 37.5% | +36.2 pts |
| Positive nexus opinion | 200 | 66.0% | 36.3% | +29.7 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 146 | 63.6% | 38.8% | +24.7 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 411 | 54.8% | 34.4% | +20.4 pts |
| Combat service | 66 | 48.0% | 42.9% | +5.1 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 201 | 47.1% | 42.6% | +4.5 pts |
| Lay statement | 953 | 43.5% | 41.1% | +2.4 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 72.3% of the decisions that granted ulcerative colitis.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 36.7% of grants and 14.4% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often ulcerative colitis was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 598 | 38.9% | 47.8% | −8.8 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 867 | 40.0% | 55.0% | −15.1 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied ulcerative colitis
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established21
- Moderately severe symptoms with frequent exacerbations5
- Ulcerative colitis rated under DC 73233
- No contrary evidence2
- Onset during service2
- Severe symptoms with numerous attacks per year2
- Private physician opinion found persuasive2
- Veteran diagnosed with ulcerative colitis2
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim34
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service34
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis28
- Service records negative or silent26
- No current diagnosis22
- Current diagnosis established16
- Ulcerative colitis rated under DC 73238
- No nexus to service3
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent ulcerative colitis decisions
Granted
Veteran's Crohn's disease rated 30% under DC 7323 (ulcerative colitis, moderately severe symptoms); 60% rating warranted for severe symptoms with numerous attacks and malnutrition; No marked malnutrition, anemia, debility, or serious complications found to warrant higher rating
Evidence evenly balanced for 60% rating; Managed with biologic agent (Humira); Recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea episodes
Private treatment records show treatment with prednisone for flare-ups, symptoms of pain, bleeding, and diarrhea.; Veteran reported 3-10 bowel movements per day during flare-ups, and was unable to leave the bathroom.; Private provider noted anemia based on bloodwork, which the Board found persuasive despite VA exam not finding anemia.
Denied
VA treatment records and examinations from October 2020, April 2021, and July 2022 were found most probative.; Evidence did not consistently support severe symptoms with malnutrition and numerous attacks.; October 2020 and April 2021 VA examiners found no weight loss or malnutrition.; September 2022 VA review of systems was negative for fatigue, fever, sweats, chills, and unexplained weight changes.
Service treatment records silent as to ulcerative colitis.; VA examiner opined less likely than not related to service.; No medical evidence links TERA to ulcerative colitis.; Veteran's lay opinion on etiology not probative.
No gastrointestinal complaints or treatment in service treatment records.; Separation examination normal for gastrointestinal issues.; No evidence of in-service onset or nexus to service.
Rules that apply to ulcerative colitis claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your ulcerative colitis case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a ulcerative colitis issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.