VA BENEFITS REFERENCE
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Including Irritable Bowel Syndrome Presumptive Reference
Official presumptive service rules for Functional gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, including listed locations, dates, criteria and sources.
VA lists the following pathways for Functional gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome. Each row retains its own dates and limitations. Listing a condition does not decide an individual award.
| Condition | Exposure | Listed Service Locations | Service Dates | Criteria And Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Functional gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome | Gulf War | Southwest Asia theater, including specified waters and airspace | On or after August 2, 1990, during the Persian Gulf War | Requires objective indications of qualifying chronic disability, lasting at least six months or showing intermittent episodes over six months. Under current 38 U.S.C. 1117 it may manifest to any degree at any time; the older regulatory December 2026/10% restriction is not applied. Structural gastrointestinal diseases are excluded from this category. The theater includes Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, and the airspace above those locations. 38 U.S.C. 1117; 38 CFR 3.317(a). Verified 2026-10-25. Source 1 · Source 2 · Source 3 · Source 4 |
| Functional gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome | Gulf War | Afghanistan, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria and Jordan for chronic Gulf War illness | On or after August 2, 1990, during the Persian Gulf War | Requires objective indications of qualifying chronic disability, lasting at least six months or showing intermittent episodes over six months. Under current 38 U.S.C. 1117 it may manifest to any degree at any time; the older regulatory December 2026/10% restriction is not applied. Structural gastrointestinal diseases are excluded from this category. These additional countries are listed in 38 U.S.C. 1117. VA excludes their airspace from this additional-country pathway. The infectious-disease list has a different service definition. 38 U.S.C. 1117; 38 CFR 3.317(a). Verified 2026-10-25. Source 1 · Source 2 · Source 3 |
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Official Sources
Last verified 2026-10-25. Source publication or legal effective dates are shown separately where available.
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