IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA and private medical records, including those from a family nurse practitioner and a private physician in Rocky Ford, Colorado.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and tinea versicolor, as well as his increased rating claim for migraine headaches, have been denied. The Veteran does not currently have a diagnosis of IBS, and the Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of service connection for these conditions. His migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound, left chest wallet, with fractures of the fifth and sixth ribs are currently evaluated at 10 percent. The Veteran's service-connected keloid scar from the SFW in his left arm is also rated at 10 percent. Both conditions have not met criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise with respect to whether these conditions are related to active military service. Service connection was denied for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the November 18, 1997 rating decision denying service connection for a stomach disorder was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. Therefore, an effective date of November 13, 1995 is granted for the award of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness, is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the request for withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, to include as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between his IBS and his service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The case will then be returned to the Board for further appellate review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disorder and his claim for TDIU, finding that there was no nexus between any current gastrointestinal disability and service or medication prescribed to treat service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected thoracolumbar strain, healed fractures of the ribs, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The claim for service connection for a right knee injury has also been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Crohn's Disease and irritable bowel syndrome, finding no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for clarification of diagnoses. The appellant's claim for chronic fatigue syndrome is being reviewed, as well as his claim for an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's death was caused by aspiration pneumonia, dysphagia, and advanced Parkinson's disease. The appellant contends that the Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound residuals aggravated his pre-existing lung conditions leading to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, degenerative disc disease at C6-7, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been granted increased ratings. The initial evaluations for these conditions are now 10 percent each.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to unclear diagnoses and severity of service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to link any of the disabilities to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for gastritis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but denied both claims as there is no current diagnosed chronic gastrointestinal disability. The Veteran's lumbar spine condition was also considered, but a rating in excess of 40 percent was not warranted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's IBS and low back disability are service-connected as they had their onset during her period of active duty.