IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder (irritable bowel syndrome) and post-traumatic stress disorder. The veteran's claim for service connection for left eye injury residuals is denied, as there is no medical evidence of a current disability. Service connection for tinea pedis remains at 10 percent, but an increased rating for headaches with aura is granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and posterior subcapsular cataracts, liver disorder, lung disorder, rib disorder, alopecia, and arthritis of multiple joints are not well grounded as there is no evidence showing these conditions were related to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression and somatoform disorder, IBS, GERD, headaches, and hemorrhoids, are found to be of such severity as to preclude her from obtaining or retaining a substantially gainful occupation. The combined rating for these conditions meets the criteria for TDIU.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims.

The veteran's disabilities are all nonservice-connected and do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension in the form of housebound benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hip and rib disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating codes.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and bilateral eye disability. The veteran's IBS is found to have its onset during service, while there is no evidence of hearing loss or other disabilities in question within the VA-defined criteria.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound, as he is able to perform daily functions and protect himself from hazards.

The Board dismissed the appeals because the veteran's substantive appeals did not contain specific allegations of error in the rating decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left foot disability, irritable bowel syndrome, back disability, collapsed lung, bronchitis, and a gynecological disorder (claimed as cervicitis with dysplasia).

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various knee, ankle, and foot disabilities due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for GERD and service connection for a chronic lung disorder as secondary to GERD was denied by the RO. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected IBS, effective March 3, 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, alcohol abuse, a personality disorder, degenerative joint disease of the back, skin cancer of the arms and shoulders, partial removal of the liver and intestines, urinary bladder disorder, gall bladder disorder, prostate disorder, gunshot wound of the left hand and left ankle, and residuals of fractures of the ribs. The Board found that there was no confirmed diagnosis of a personality disorder in the record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and spastic colitis, a duodenal ulcer, and gastroesophageal reflux due to his failure to report for a VA examination without good cause.

The Board denied a higher rating for irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the veteran's symptoms are best evaluated as moderate and warranting a 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability is denied as her service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining substantial gainful employment.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent evaluation for the service-connected irritable bowel syndrome, effective from October 26, 1993.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, or impotence related to his active military service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 10% disability rating. The claims for arthritis of the hands and knees, arthritis of the knees, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic low back strain, and residuals of fractures to three bones of the left foot have all been granted with appropriate disability ratings.