IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2000

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for the left shoulder scar effective from March 7, 1990 and found new and material evidence to reopen claims of service connection for hypertension and irritable bowel syndrome. The claim for brachial plexus injury was also reopened.

The Board found that some new evidence supports the veteran's claims for service connection, reopening them. The claim for undulant fever is well-grounded and plausible. Claims for residuals of head injury, fractured nose, and fractures to the left ribs are also considered plausible.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected condition that caused or contributed to the veteran's death. The cause of death was attributed to small bowel infarction, which was linked to atrial fibrillation and ischemic heart disease.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, but denied the merits of the psychiatric disability claim.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% evaluation of duodenal ulcer disease, status post vagotomy and pyloroplasty with irritable bowel syndrome is denied. The earliest possible effective date is April 14, 1998.

The veteran's IBS was rated at 10% since November 5, 1990. The RO denied earlier ratings as not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The respiratory illness claim was not well-grounded.

The veteran's combined schedular evaluation for service-connected disabilities is 70 percent, which meets the threshold requirement for TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for the veteran's undiagnosed illness, but denied a higher initial rating. The veteran is entitled to a 10 percent disability rating since November 24, 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and a psychiatric disability are not well grounded. The claim for service connection for post-traumatic osteoarthritis is found to be well grounded.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for increased rate of dependency and indemnity compensation based upon a demonstrated need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to lack of evidence showing she requires regular aid and attendance or is permanently housebound.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, while his fractures of the ninth and tenth ribs were already rated as noncompensable. The appeal was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic left knee disability or irritable bowel syndrome that was incurred in service. The evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a lung disability, psychiatric disorder, residuals of broken ribs, and low back disability. The decision found that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to active service or military service.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not show frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress.

The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is rated at a 30 percent disability level, representing the most disabling since September 1992.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and have been denied.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's claimed residuals of a head injury and rib injuries to his service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease and a 10 percent disability rating for the residuals of a gunshot wound to the left ankle, effective October 17, 1995. The appellant's claim for earlier effective date was also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and an increased rating for bilateral pes planus, finding that there was no well-grounded claim for either issue.