IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2007

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's disabilities, including avitaminosis and other nutritional deficiencies, malnutrition, malaria, residuals of stroke (right-sided hemiparesis), COPD, ischemic heart disease, peptic ulcer disease, irritable bowel syndrome, antral gastritis, osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease. These conditions are presumed to have been incurred in service as a POW.

The veteran's claims for service connection for muscle twitches, insomnia, and memory loss are being remanded as they are encompassed by his existing service-connected 'undiagnosed condition-musculoskeletal diseases' rating. The claim of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is also being remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a comprehensive examination to determine the nature and etiology of any claimed disabilities or symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not experience a cerebrovascular accident or sustain broken ribs during service, and his current varicose veins of the right leg are not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulitis, finding that these conditions are not related to his military service or his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected GERD, peptic ulcer disease, and IBS are rated at 10 percent. The right inguinal hernia is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's IBS qualifies as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 and meets the other requirements for service connection, thus granting service connection for IBS.

The Board denied an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome with psychogenic vomiting, finding that the veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher disability evaluation.

The veteran's PTSD with depression is found to be related to in-service stressful events, and service connection for this condition has been granted.,Bilateral tinnitus was found to have occurred during active service due to acoustic trauma exposure, and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as secondary to a service-connected disability was denied.,The veteran's claims for higher ratings for her low back disorder were partially granted, with the RO assigning a 40 percent rating from December 3, 1994, to November 13, 1996. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for residuals of repair of an enterocele and posterior colporrhaphy was denied.,The veteran's claim for a higher rating for her IBS was also denied.

The veteran's dysthymic disorder is rated at 50 percent, GERD and IBS are each rated at 10 percent, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee is rated at 10 percent based on limited range of motion due to pain, and right knee laxity is rated at 10 percent. Sinusitis has not been assigned a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep impairment, short-term memory loss, and cervical ribs. The other claims have been denied.

The Board found that the veteran's emergency room visit for irritable bowel syndrome did not constitute an emergent medical situation, and that VA facilities were feasibly available. Therefore, reimbursement was denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis with headaches, hypertension, and irritable bowel syndrome were denied as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or frequent episodes of bowel disturbances warranting higher evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and a sleep disorder, as well as his requests for increased disability ratings for PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of current diagnoses or causal relationship between these conditions and the veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for acne vulgaris, higher initial rating for PTSD, service connection for sleep apnea, and service connection for IBS as secondary to PTSD. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right hip disorder or left hip disorder related to her active service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for depression, reopened claims for service connection for various conditions including irritable bowel syndrome and bilateral polyneuropathy of the legs, and denied other issues.