IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2003

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disorder characterized as pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and the veteran's irritable bowel syndrome, acne, allergic rhinitis, and atrial fibrillation are all rated at 10 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's request for an increased rating of his service-connected stomach ulcer with irritable bowel condition, assigning a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran's acid reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and alcoholism are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, based on the presumption of service connection available to Persian Gulf War veterans who develop an undiagnosed illness or an unexplained chronic multisymptom illness such as IBS no later than December 31, 2006.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for intra-abdominal adhesions with partial bowel removal and irritable bowel syndrome, effective from December 14, 2001. The total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability was also granted, effective from the same date.

The veteran's gastrointestinal disorder (irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease) is now rated at 30 percent disabling, effective December 17, 2003.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracic spine disorder, gastrointestinal disorders, headache disorder, and PTSD. The veteran was not shown to have these conditions during or as a result of his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's phobic neurosis, diagnosed as a specific phobia of heights disorder, was incurred in active service. The claim for an increased evaluation for IBS is denied as a matter of law due to the veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA medical examinations. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the appellant's diagnosed multi-joint pain is related to Desert Shield/Storm service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations and a total rating based on individual unemployability, except for an increase in evaluation of his right pinguecula to 10% effective December 18, 2001.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and will be remanded for additional examinations and consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's irritable bowel syndrome was aggravated during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for compression of the ulnar nerve of the left wrist secondary to lipoma is remanded for further development.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a stomach condition and his irritable bowel syndrome is not linked to his service-connected PTSD or active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of fractured ribs and right 5th metacarpal, finding that these conditions were incurred during his period of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and a chronic heart disorder, finding no evidence to support these conditions as incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the service-connected irritable bowel syndrome, effective from the date of the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for multiple-joint arthralgia and service connection for gastrointestinal disorders and residuals of a low back strain, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative residuals of left middle ear lipoma and irritable bowel syndrome are related to service, warranting their grant of service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of her claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic gastrointestinal disorder, including hiatal hernia with reflux, gastritis, duodenitis, colon polyps, erosive and/or Barrett's esophagitis, and irritable bowel, is service-connected as a direct result of his active duty service.