{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/irritable-colon-syndrome-spastic-colitis-mucous-colitis-secondary-to-ptsd","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:31.584Z","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":{"claim":"Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) secondary to PTSD","secondary_condition":"Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis)","service_connected_disability":"PTSD","decisions":380,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":24.2,"denied_pct":18.4,"remanded_pct":55.8,"granted_on_merits_pct":56.8,"by_year":[{"year":2018,"issues":30,"granted_pct":13.3,"denied_pct":33.3,"remanded_pct":50},{"year":2019,"issues":33,"granted_pct":6.1,"denied_pct":12.1,"remanded_pct":81.8},{"year":2020,"issues":51,"granted_pct":17.6,"denied_pct":19.6,"remanded_pct":62.7},{"year":2021,"issues":36,"granted_pct":11.1,"denied_pct":25,"remanded_pct":63.9},{"year":2022,"issues":24,"granted_pct":25,"denied_pct":8.3,"remanded_pct":62.5},{"year":2023,"issues":41,"granted_pct":26.8,"denied_pct":4.9,"remanded_pct":65.9},{"year":2024,"issues":58,"granted_pct":36.2,"denied_pct":8.6,"remanded_pct":55.2},{"year":2025,"issues":66,"granted_pct":43.9,"denied_pct":22.7,"remanded_pct":31.8},{"year":2026,"issues":25,"granted_pct":16,"denied_pct":20,"remanded_pct":64}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":73.9,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":45,"granted_pct_with":93.8,"granted_pct_without":47.7},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":299,"granted_pct_with":55.1,"granted_pct_without":66.7},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":102,"granted_pct_with":87.3,"granted_pct_without":33},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":239,"granted_pct_with":57.3,"granted_pct_without":55.8},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":140,"granted_pct_with":76.5,"granted_pct_without":37},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":302,"granted_pct_with":50.8,"granted_pct_without":83.3}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":14},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":9},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":7},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":5},{"reason":"criteria for secondary service connection met","decisions":3},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":19},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":11},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":9},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":6},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":6},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":3}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"26004914","year":2026,"judge":"WILLIAM H. DONNELLY","rationale":"Aggravated by service-connected PTSD; PTSD correlated with GI diseases; Constipation and nausea/vomiting noted"},{"case_id":"A26026589","year":2026,"judge":"DUSTIN L. WARE","rationale":"Current diagnosis of IBS established.; PTSD is a service-connected disability.; Evidence in approximate balance regarding secondary connection.; Benefit of the doubt applied in Veteran's favor."},{"case_id":"A26020220","year":2026,"judge":"RAY BARTO SLABBEKORN, JR.","rationale":"Secondary to service-connected PTSD; Irritable bowel syndrome is a result of PTSD"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26035859","year":2026,"judge":"I. CANNADAY","rationale":"No competent medical evidence of current IBS diagnosis; Service and post-service records silent on IBS complaints/treatment; Recent VA records indicate no formal IBS diagnosis or bowel dysfunction"},{"case_id":"26004497","year":2026,"judge":"WILLIAM H. DONNELLY","rationale":"No current diagnosis of IBS during appellate period; Veteran's lay statements lacked probative value; Veteran not competent to opine on medical matters"},{"case_id":"A26032101","year":2026,"judge":"JOHN Z. JONES","rationale":"No current diagnosis of IBS; No objective evidence of digestive symptoms; Veteran's self-reported symptoms not credible due to lack of objective findings and treatment; Evidence persuasively weighs against service connection"}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":380,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":125,"granted_pct":20},"causation_only":{"issues":255,"granted_pct":26.3},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":12.1,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Stress","issues":28,"granted_pct":42.9,"examples":[{"case_id":"25008737","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Chronic psychological stress from PTSD can worsen IBS symptoms"},{"case_id":"A26032101","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The veteran claimed service connection for IBS as secondary to PTSD, asserting that stress and nightmares from PTSD triggered IBS symptoms causing functional impairment."}]}]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}