IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for IBS and a psychiatric disorder, finding no competent medical evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his CAD. The effective date claim for pancreatitis remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart palpitations, tinnitus, and increased ratings for sinusitis with headaches and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The evidence did not support a finding of service connection or an increase in disability.

The veteran has moderate limitation of motion in the thoracic region of his spine, which warrants a separate 10 percent rating. The residuals of a compression fracture at T12-L1 with a bulging disc warrant a 60 percent rating.,The veteran's service-connected residuals of fractured ribs have been evaluated by analogy to the removal of ribs under Diagnostic Code 5297, and do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for lacerations of the ears and head, as well as residuals of fractures of the ribs due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as a TDIU rating, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Lyme disease was denied. His claims for increased ratings for IBS and hepatitis C, as well as his claim for a compensable evaluation for prostatitis with benign hyperplasia were granted.,The veteran is not entitled to service connection for post-vasectomy residuals.

The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is found to be secondary to her service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder. The redundant colon issue was not granted, and the fibrocystic breast disease is rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is rated at 30 percent since the award of service connection in December 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The veteran was also not found to have any disability attributable to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for irritable bowel syndrome and actinic keratosis of the lower lip, finding that neither condition warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination regarding irritable bowel syndrome and to issue a Statement of the Case on whether new and material evidence was received to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions. The veteran's representative appealed all issues listed in the November 2002 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity paralysis and broken ribs, left side due to a lack of competent medical evidence of current diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions and assigned initial compensable ratings, with the exception of irritable bowel syndrome which remains noncompensably disabling.

The Board has determined that the appellant's Crohn's Disease and IBS are aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,A higher rating for the upper extremity skin disability is not addressed in this decision.

The veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the issues of service connection for asthma and increased ratings for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic cystitis, and hayfever with headaches.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the left ribs is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need to consider new diagnostic codes and additional evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings for PTSD and IBS have been granted. The effective date is not specified as the issues were resolved in favor of the veteran.

The Board granted service connection for avascular necrosis of multiple joints, finding it was proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability (IBS). The other issues were not addressed as they are related to different conditions.