IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, a bowel disorder (irritable bowel syndrome), and an initially compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's initial rating for irritable bowel syndrome with stomach pain was denied, and service connection for low back disability was also denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was granted, while claims for irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia were denied.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for initial evaluation claims related to degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, tendonitis of the right wrist, bursitis of the right hip, irritable bowel syndrome, and hypothyroidism.

The Board denied service connection for fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and shortness of breath as undiagnosed illnesses due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at 40 percent due to constant or nearly constant symptoms refractory to therapy, including widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, depression, and anxiety.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for PTSD was reopened but ultimately denied due to the lack of a valid diagnosis.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is presumed to be due to service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for residuals of broken ribs as there is no medical evidence showing that the veteran has a rib disability.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, a low back disability, and a right foot stress fracture. The Veteran's recurrent aphthous stomatitis does not warrant a compensable rating, and the initial evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome remains at 10 percent.

The claims for service connection for memory loss, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance as due to an undiagnosed illness were denied. However, new and material evidence was found to reopen the claims for gastrointestinal and menstrual disorders, respiratory disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was denied as the RO assigned the earliest possible effective date provided by law.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for GERD and hiatal hernia, but service connection was denied for coronary artery disease, sleep disorder, erectile dysfunction, and irritable bowel disease.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for residuals of fractured T 7 & T 8 ribs on the left side to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service injury and current thoracic spinal pathology.

The Board granted service connection for chronic pain syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, but denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, fatigue, vision problems, weight loss, skin disorder, hair loss, headaches, speech changes, stress/depression, sleep difficulty, memory loss, and concentration problems.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was rated at 30 percent prior to October 16, 2003, and increased to 50 percent from that date.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, including duodenitis and irritable bowel syndrome, as these conditions were not related to the Veteran's active service or any service-connected condition. However, it granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability that developed secondary to the service-connected multiple sclerosis.

The Board finds that the evidence supports entitlement to service connection for the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as it is found to be of service origin.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted based on the evidence of a current diagnosis, a link established by medical evidence between current diagnosis and in-service stressors, and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.