VA Disability and the Intestines
The onset of different gastrointestinal disorders can be triggered by severe stress and infections of the digestive tract. Deployed military personnel face an elevated risk for developing a gastrointestinal disorder and issues with the intestines as a result of their service. The challenges of deployment and combat situations can be incredibility stressful, and digestive tract infections care common in areas outside the U.S. where living conditions may be less than ideal.
There are numerous intestinal disorders which the VA will service connected if they are caused by a veterans military service. Including:
Chronic Enteritis
What is it?
Enteritis is the inflammation of the small intestines. There are various types of enteritis, the most common include:
- Viral or bacterial infection
- Radiation induced
- Medication induced
- Alcohol or drug induced
- Enteritis related to poor blood flow
- Enteritis related to inflammatory conditions
Symptoms of enteritis can come on quickly and may include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Pain, bleeding, or mucus like discharge from the rectum
- fever
How is it Rated?
| Rating | Symptoms |
| 30% | If it is severe with diarrhea or if it alternates between diarrhea and constipation with stomach pains |
| 10% | If there are frequent episodes of abnormal bowel movements with stomach pain |
| 0% | If there are mild abnormal bowel movements with occasional stomach pain |
Chronic Enterocolitis
What is it?
Entercolitis is inflammation of both the small intestines and colon. Some of the most common symptoms of entercolitis include:
- Fever
- Swelling near the stomach
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Tiredness
- A general feeling of being unwell
How is it Rated?
| Rating | Symptoms |
| 30% | If it is severe with diarrhea or if it alternates between diarrhea and constipation with stomach pains |
| 10% | If there are frequent episodes of abnormal bowel movements with stomach pain |
| 0% | If there are mild abnormal bowel movements with occasional stomach pain |
Ulcerative Colitis
What is it?
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes long lasting inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the innermost lining of the large intestine and colon. Symptoms usually develop over time, rather than suddenly.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis can vary but may include:
- Diarrhea, often with blood or pus
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Rectal pain
- Rectal bleeding
- Urgency to defecate
- Inability to defecate despite urgency
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever
How is it Rated?
| Rating | Symptoms |
| 100% | If it is severe and constant and causes serious malnutrition, anemia, and overall disabling with bad health or if it causes a severe liver abscess |
| 60% | If it is severe but not constant, with many attacks a year that cause malnutrition which then causes overall bad health that cannot be fully recovered during the periods in between attacks |
| 30% | If it is somewhat severe and causes some attacks a year but less than a severe condition |
| 10% | If there are only occasional attacks |
Bacillary Dysentery
What is it?
Bacillary dysentery is an intestinal infection caused by a group of bacteria which can be found in the human gut. Bacillary dysentery is transmitted directly by physical contact with the fecal matter of a patient or indirectly through consumption of contaminated food or water.
Symptoms tend to appear within 1 to 3 days of infection. There is normally a mild stomach ache and diarrhea. Other symptoms may include:
- Blood or mucus in the feces
- Intense abdominal pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
How is it Rated?
| Rating | Symptoms |
| 100% | If it is severe and constant and causes serious malnutrition, anemia, and overall disabling with bad health or if it causes a severe liver abscess |
| 60% | If it is severe but not constant, with many attacks a year that cause malnutrition which then causes overall bad health that cannot be fully recovered during the periods in between attacks |
| 30% | If it is somewhat severe and causes some attacks a year but less than a severe condition |
| 10% | If there are only occasional attacks |
Amebiasis
What is it?
Amebiasis is a parasitic infection of the intestines caused by protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. Amebiasis is common in tropical countries with underdeveloped sanitation. It usually enters the body through food or water. When it enters the body they lodge in the digestive tract. They eventually release an active form of the parasite which reproduce in the digestive tract and migrate to the large intestine.
This parasite can burrow into the intestinal or colon wall. This cases bloody diarrhea, colitis, and tissue destruction. The parasite can spread to various organs which can cause abscesses, infections, severe illness, or death.
How is it Rated?
| Rating | Symptoms |
| 10% | If there are low stomach cramps, nausea, bloating and continuous constipation with diarrhea on occasion |
| 0% | If there are no symptoms at all |
Veterans Help Group have been supporting veterans in getting the benefits they deserve since 1995. If you or a loved one served, and suffer from an intestinal disorder, we are here to help. Call Veterans Help Group at 855-855-8992 or complete our free veterans benefits case evaluation form.
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