IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of a nexus between the veteran's claimed conditions and his period of service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for rib fractures resulting from a coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including a bowel disorder and a stomach disorder, is not well grounded. The evidence does not establish a link between his current conditions and his period of active duty service.

The veteran's recognized active service does not include status as a POW, and there is no reasonable basis to question the finding of the service department that he was not a POW. The appeal for recognition as a former POW for VA purposes is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including malaria and beriberi, were denied due to lack of evidence. The claim for recognition as a POW was also denied because the veteran did not meet the criteria for being considered a POW for at least 30 days.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy, avitaminosis, and irritable bowel syndrome as presumptively incurred during the appellant's Prisoner of War status. Service connection for kidney stones was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and left shoulder disorder, but granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and depressive disorder. The veteran's attorney was paid fees based on past-due benefits awarded due to the grant of service connection for left cervical radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection of residuals of a ruptured right tympanic membrane, bilateral ankle disability, and irritable bowel syndrome are not well grounded. The evidence does not support current diagnoses or disabilities related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as an increased rating of 50% for reflux esophagitis. The cervical and thoracic spine disability claims are still pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, an increased rating for subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gender identification disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and bilateral pes planus. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, malignant melanoma of the left shoulder, basal cell carcinoma of the face, skin rash (acne), abdominal disorder (diverticulitis), headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), residuals of right nephrectomy, cyst of the liver and gallbladder, tingling of the lower extremities, a disorder of the left eyelid with associated loss of vision, residuals of stress fractures of the left tibia and ribs, and chest pain. The ratings for these conditions have not been assigned yet.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluations of her fibromyalgia and ulcer disease is granted, while the service connection claim for mitral valve prolapse remains unresolved.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for chronic dysentery, irritable bowel syndrome, frostbite injury residuals, and peripheral neuropathy. The claim for arthritis was not reopened as new and material evidence was not presented. The heart condition with edema and hearing loss disability were also not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with sacralization of L5 to S1, residuals of anterior and cruciate ligament tears of the right knee, and bronchial asthma. The claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran was found to have been fraudulently maintaining his entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from July 1, 1972 to May 31, 1992. Restoration of this rating is not warranted.