IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected diverticulosis and irritable bowel syndrome are manifested by frequent diarrhea, and more or less constant abdominal distress. The Board finds that the manifestations of the veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis more closely approximate the criteria for a 30 percent rating under DC 7319.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, tinnitus, gastroesophageal disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome, chest pain, a low back disorder, and PTSD.

The veteran's claims for muscle spasms and Persian Gulf War syndrome were denied. However, the Board found that his irritable bowel syndrome is proximately due to a service-connected disability (fibromyalgia), thus granting this claim.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and bullous emphysema, but denied reopening of the claims for CFS and IBS due to lack of new and material evidence. The veteran's current level of hearing loss is not a disability for VA purposes, and tinnitus has not been shown by competent medical evidence to be etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee popliteal scar and dysentery with residuals of irritable bowel syndrome, as there was no evidence showing that these conditions warranted higher disability evaluations.

The veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for cholecystectomy with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome is dismissed due to the failure to timely file a VA Form 9. The service connection claim for esophageal reflux, including as secondary to a service-connected disability, remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed IBS and right shoulder disability did not have a current diagnosis, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. For cervical strain, the Board determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a colon disorder, including Crohn's Disease, due to exposure to herbicides. The evidence did not establish that the veteran's current conditions were incurred or aggravated during his active duty service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to undiagnosed illnesses.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for IBS and an increased rating for peptic ulcer disease with hiatal hernia due to lack of timely substantive appeal. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee chondromalacia were also dismissed as there was no evidence of a compensable disability rating.

The veteran is seeking service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. The VA has ordered further testing and will need to determine if the veteran currently has a bowel condition, and whether it was caused by his military service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome was denied as the law does not allow for such a determination based on the facts presented.

The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and granted a 10% rating for right knee osteoarthritis with loss of cartilage, effective March 3, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gastrointestinal disability and chronic ear infections are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for right knee disability, myopia, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, and hemorrhoids have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, an inguinal hernia with injury to the abdominal wall, residuals of a laceration of the 3rd left finger, traumatic arthritis of the pelvis, and traumatic arthritis of the right elbow. The veteran did not provide evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board found that the submitted evidence is not new and material to reopen the previously denied claims for prostate disorder with urinary incontinence, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and paranoia), and irritable bowel syndrome with abdominal pain.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing or a certificate of eligibility for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and an increased rating for IBS, finding that the veteran's current symptoms are as likely as not related to her period of active duty service and her service-connected IBS.

The Board found that the veteran's in-service gastrointestinal symptoms were not related to his current conditions, and thus denied service connection.