IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2005

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities for the claimed conditions and denied service connection.

The Board found that the veteran does not have pes planus, ulcerative colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome that are service-connected. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral eye disability, irritable bowel syndrome, and headaches. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disability of status post fracture, six left ribs, with arthritis of the thoracic spine, scoliosis and mid-back pain is now rated at 40 percent effective from September 26, 2003.

The veteran was granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (claimed as peptic ulcer disease) is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and remanded the matter to the RO for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits information.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and treatment records from private or VA facilities.

The veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and irritable bowel syndrome with spastic colon and diverticulitis. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an examination and opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for IBS and assigned a 30 percent rating, the maximum available under DC 7319.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cataracts, periodontal disease, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, ischemic pancreatitis, nephropathy, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeals were based on direct service connection or secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, PTSD, diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, hypertension, and IBS. The initial evaluations were assigned based on the severity of each condition.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease at L4 and L5, headaches, right heel fracture, left ankle fracture, wrist disorders, shoulder disorder, knee disorders, and stomach issues. The appeals were based on presumptions of undiagnosed illness due to service in the Southwest Asia theater.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's enucleation of the right eye, residuals of a right shoulder injury, and residuals of a fractured left forearm, facial bones, and ribs as secondary to hepatitis.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues developed for appellate consideration.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been denied. The Board found that the acne vulgaris did not warrant a higher than 30 percent evaluation, and major depression was not related to active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulitis, as well as his claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD, were denied. However, the veteran was granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD. His claim for a higher evaluation for spastic torticollis was denied, and he was also denied TDIU.

The VA has granted an increased evaluation of 50 percent for dysthymic disorder and a separate 30 percent evaluation for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but denied the request for an increased evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cholecystectomy, increased ratings for post-gastrectomy syndrome and hemorrhoidectomy residuals. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The veteran's service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7319. The Board found that his symptoms met the criteria for severe IBS and granted a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and initial ratings for cervical strain and thoracolumbar strain, finding no clear or continuous relationship between his current stomach disability and military service.