Secondary service connection
Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) secondary to PTSD: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) claimed as secondary to PTSD in 380 decisions. It granted the issue in 24.2% of them, close to the 25.2% grant rate for all irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) issues, denied it in 18.4%, and remanded it in 55.8%. Counting only decisions on the merits, 56.8% were granted.
Decisions
380
2017–2026
Granted
24.2%
All irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis): 25.2%
Granted on the merits
56.8%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
55.8%
Denied: 18.4%
See all irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) decisions, direct and secondary.
Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) secondary to PTSD: outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 30 | 13.3% | 33.3% | 50.0% | 3.3% |
| 2019 | 33 | 6.1% | 12.1% | 81.8% | 0.0% |
| 2020 | 51 | 17.6% | 19.6% | 62.7% | 0.0% |
| 2021 | 36 | 11.1% | 25.0% | 63.9% | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 24 | 25.0% | 8.3% | 62.5% | 4.2% |
| 2023 | 41 | 26.8% | 4.9% | 65.9% | 2.4% |
| 2024 | 58 | 36.2% | 8.6% | 55.2% | 0.0% |
| 2025 | 66 | 43.9% | 22.7% | 31.8% | 1.5% |
| 2026 | 25 | 16.0% | 20.0% | 64.0% | 0.0% |
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 Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome.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 20 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 102 | 87.3% | 33.0% | +54.4 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 45 | 93.8% | 47.7% | +46.1 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 140 | 76.5% | 37.0% | +39.5 pts |
| Lay statement | 302 | 50.8% | 83.3% | −32.6 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 73.9% of the decisions that granted irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis).
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 17.4% of grants and 22.9% 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 irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous 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 | 239 | 57.3% | 55.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 299 | 55.1% | 66.7% | −11.6 pts |
How these claims are argued
A secondary claim says PTSD caused irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) or made it worse, and names how. Below: whether the Board's decision discussed aggravation, and the medical link each decision names, with how often those issues were granted.
Aggravation discussed
made worse by the disability, 3.310(b)
20.0%
granted, of 125 issues (32.9% of all)
Causation only
caused by the disability, 3.310(a)
26.3%
granted, of 255 issues (67.1% of all)
| Medical link named | Issues | Granted |
|---|---|---|
Stress Granted “Chronic psychological stress from PTSD can worsen IBS symptoms” 25008737 (2025) Denied “The veteran claimed service connection for IBS as secondary to PTSD, asserting that stress and nightmares from PTSD triggered IBS symptoms causing functional impairment.” A26032101 (2026) | 28 | 42.9% |
Based on words in the AI-written summary and reasons for each issue, not a reading of the full decision. 12.1% of the 380 issues name at least one medical link; the rest only say “secondary to” the disability. One issue can name several links. Granted is the share of those issues granted (remands count as not granted). A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.
Why the Board granted or denied irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis)
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established14
- Service connection established9
- Caused by the service-connected disability7
- Aggravated by the service-connected disability5
- Criteria for secondary service connection met3
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service2
- Private medical opinion found ibs secondary to PTSD2
Most common reasons in denials
- No current diagnosis19
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service11
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim9
- Service records negative or silent6
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis6
- Current diagnosis established3
- No diagnosis of ibs2
- Veteran not competent to diagnose ibs2
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 irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) decisions
Granted
Aggravated by service-connected PTSD; PTSD correlated with GI diseases; Constipation and nausea/vomiting noted
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.
Secondary to service-connected PTSD; Irritable bowel syndrome is a result of PTSD
Denied
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
No current diagnosis of IBS during appellate period; Veteran's lay statements lacked probative value; Veteran not competent to opine on medical matters
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
What VA needs to grant a secondary claim
Secondary service connection means VA disability benefits for a condition caused or made worse by a disability that is already service connected (38 CFR 3.310). The claim needs three things:
- A current diagnosis of irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis).
- PTSD is already service connected.
- Medical evidence linking them (a nexus opinion): irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) was caused by PTSD (3.310(a)), or was made worse beyond its natural progress by it (aggravation, 3.310(b)).
VA's procedures for these claims are in M21-1 V.ii.2.D. When the evidence for and against is about even, VA must decide in the veteran's favor (38 CFR 3.102).
Other conditions secondary to PTSD
- Major depressive disorder secondary to PTSD305 decisions · 62.0% granted
- Migraine secondary to PTSD1,732 decisions · 37.1% granted
- Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD11,479 decisions · 31.7% granted
- Erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD1,645 decisions · 30.3% granted
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to PTSD1,237 decisions · 25.3% granted
- Diabetes mellitus secondary to PTSD551 decisions · 20.3% granted
- Hypertension secondary to PTSD3,194 decisions · 16.5% granted
See all conditions secondary to PTSD.
Rules that apply to secondary irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) claims
- 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.ii.2.D
Secondary service connection and aggravation of non-service-connected disabilities
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Counts decisions in which the Board decided a irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) issue claimed as secondary to PTSD, by the outcome of that issue.
- The primary disability is read from the decision text ("secondary to …") and grouped by name, so spellings such as "PTSD" and "posttraumatic stress disorder" count together.
- Secondary claims also include aggravation of a non-service-connected condition by a service-connected one (38 CFR 3.310(b)).
- 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.