Chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder causing abdominal pain, bloating, bowel habit changes
Medical records documenting the frequency of your abdominal pain and its relationship to defecation are central to establishing the rating level. Records from the previous three months carrying specific dates and episode counts help show whether your pain occurs at least once total, at least three days per month, or at least one day per week. Exam findings, treatment notes, or diagnostic reports that record any of the qualifying additional symptoms — such as changes in stool frequency or form, straining, urgency, mucorrhea, bloating, or distension — support showing that at least two of those symptoms are present. If your symptoms include functional digestive conditions such as dyspepsia or diarrhea, records documenting those separately may also be relevant. Personal statements from you or people who live with you describing how often symptoms occur and how they affect your daily activities and work can help fill gaps between medical appointments and give VA a fuller picture of symptom frequency and severity.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
