IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2007

The veteran's depression is found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claims of entitlement to a higher initial evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome with stomach pain and service connection for a low back disorder are remanded.

The VA has denied a rating in excess of 10% for the veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), finding that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on moderate disability with frequent episodes of bowel disturbance and abdominal distress.

The veteran's service-connected GERD/irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by right-sided chest and right arm pain, productive of considerable impairment of health. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the veteran for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the appellant's irritable bowel syndrome with reflux disease warrants a 0 percent rating prior to June 20, 2007 and a 30 percent rating from June 20, 2007. The appellant's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent.

The Board has determined that service connection for a personality disorder is not warranted as it is not considered to be a disease or injury eligible for VA compensation purposes. The claims for irritable bowel syndrome and residuals of cervical spine injury are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dysthymic disorder, secondary to irritable bowel syndrome, warrants a rating of 50 percent and not higher.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The veteran's PTSD and IBS were granted service connection, with a 30 percent rating for PTSD effective September 12, 2002. The claim for an increased evaluation for IBS was denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, broken ribs on the right side, and heat stroke. The appellant's claim remains denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for depression, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and fibromyalgia have been denied. The RO has assigned the maximum schedular ratings for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic bronchitis, and a cervical spine disorder were denied. The claim for the skin rash was also addressed but not specified in terms of rating or effective date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is directly caused by his military service and grants service connection for PTSD. The stomach disorder claim will be remanded to further develop evidence regarding its secondary relationship to PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and depression, finding that the veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and a rectal disorder, as well as his claim for a combined evaluation in excess of 40 percent effective from May 30, 2003. The veteran is not shown to have an irritable bowel syndrome or a rectal disorder that was incurred in service.

The veteran's GERD and IBS have been granted service connection, with initial evaluations of 10 percent each.

The veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is at least 70 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU. However, he is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as they do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and granted it. The veteran's claims for chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, and arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine have been addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, finding that there is no current diagnosis of IBS and that his gastrointestinal symptoms are already service connected to diverticulosis.