{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/irritable-colon-syndrome","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:18.476Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Irritable colon syndrome","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":1136,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":47.8,"denied_pct":42.6,"remanded_pct":10,"granted_on_merits_pct":52.9,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":57,"granted_pct":29.8,"denied_pct":43.9,"remanded_pct":8.8},{"year":2018,"issues":73,"granted_pct":41.1,"denied_pct":46.6,"remanded_pct":9.6},{"year":2019,"issues":96,"granted_pct":45.8,"denied_pct":41.7,"remanded_pct":11.5},{"year":2020,"issues":111,"granted_pct":39.6,"denied_pct":44.1,"remanded_pct":14.4},{"year":2021,"issues":129,"granted_pct":40.3,"denied_pct":46.5,"remanded_pct":10.9},{"year":2022,"issues":92,"granted_pct":47.8,"denied_pct":38,"remanded_pct":12},{"year":2023,"issues":113,"granted_pct":50.4,"denied_pct":34.5,"remanded_pct":12.4},{"year":2024,"issues":179,"granted_pct":52,"denied_pct":39.1,"remanded_pct":7.8},{"year":2025,"issues":273,"granted_pct":47.6,"denied_pct":43.6,"remanded_pct":6.6},{"year":2026,"issues":64,"granted_pct":51.6,"denied_pct":39.1,"remanded_pct":7.8}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":66.1,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":250,"granted_pct_with":70.2,"granted_pct_without":47.5},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":975,"granted_pct_with":50.5,"granted_pct_without":67.8},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":199,"granted_pct_with":70.7,"granted_pct_without":48.9},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":505,"granted_pct_with":50.1,"granted_pct_without":55},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":384,"granted_pct_with":52.6,"granted_pct_without":53},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":75,"granted_pct_with":52.8,"granted_pct_without":52.9},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":994,"granted_pct_with":54.5,"granted_pct_without":41.3},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":80,"granted_pct_with":67.6,"granted_pct_without":51.8}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"already at the maximum schedular rating","decisions":46},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":14},{"reason":"veteran served in southwest asia during persian gulf war","decisions":11},{"reason":"more or less constant abdominal distress","decisions":10},{"reason":"frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress","decisions":10},{"reason":"frequent episodes of bowel disturbance","decisions":6}],"denied":[{"reason":"already at the maximum schedular rating","decisions":101},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":41},{"reason":"benefit of the doubt / evidence in equipoise","decisions":16},{"reason":"extraschedular consideration not warranted","decisions":6},{"reason":"symptoms did not meet criteria for higher rating","decisions":6},{"reason":"no frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress","decisions":5}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26039659","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL J. SKALTSOUNIS","rationale":"Symptoms met criteria for severe irritable colon syndrome (diarrhea, abdominal distress).; Benefit of the doubt applied to grant the 30% rating.; Considered both prior and revised rating criteria, applying the more favorable standard."},{"case_id":"A26038915","year":2026,"judge":"VICTORIA MOSHIASHWILI","rationale":"Greater weight assigned to private medical opinion; Deficient VA examination for chronic diarrhea; Credible lay testimony of symptoms since service"},{"case_id":"A26037110","year":2026,"judge":"KRISTY L. ZADORA","rationale":"Private DBQ found severe IBS symptoms; VA exam noted moderate IBS symptoms; Board found IBS met 30% criteria"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26041010","year":2026,"judge":"K.A. KENNERLY","rationale":"Evidence does not show moderate IBS with frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress.; Symptoms primarily consist of diarrhea, not meeting criteria for compensable rating.; Veteran's reported symptoms are credible but do not meet severity thresholds for higher rating."},{"case_id":"A26039808","year":2026,"judge":"M. C. GRAHAM","rationale":"Veteran's gastrointestinal disability primarily manifested by frequent diarrhea and intermittent abdominal pain.; Evidence did not show severe impairment of health required for 60% rating.; Board assigns greater weight to contemporaneous evidence showing less frequent pancreatitis exacerbations duri… [truncated, 17 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26038941","year":2026,"judge":"L. STEPANICK","rationale":"Veteran already receiving maximum rating under DC 7319; Amended rating criteria did not warrant higher rating"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}