IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and diverticula are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic psychiatric disability manifested by anxiety and stress, nor can service connection be established for this condition. The initial evaluation of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome with aerophagia is denied as it does not reflect the severity of the Veteran's symptoms.

The Veteran's headache disability is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, and his IBS is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. Both conditions are granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, and his irritable bowel syndrome warrants a noncompensable rating. The combined effective date for these ratings is not specified as the decision pertains to an ongoing claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service connection, as well as his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asbestosis, PTSD, and cysts on the face, arm, back, and thigh. The Veteran was granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome with a 10% rating effective September 3, 2004.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability and IBS, but granted service connection for IBS with an effective date of March 1, 2002. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including colon cancer and its secondary effects on other disorders. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain relevant medical records and provide an opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including preparation of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC), VA examination and stressor verification.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and irritable bowel syndrome have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's kidney stones, right eye disability, elbow disability, periodontal disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, impingement syndrome of the left shoulder, CAD, PVD of the right subclavian artery, GERD, IBS, fracture of the left ankle, and hemorrhoids have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a 20 percent initial rating for PVD of the right subclavian artery.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and low back strain, which he contends began in service. The VA examiner's opinion was inadequate as it did not consider the Veteran's reported history of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has reopened the claims but continues to deny them on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 27, 2006 for additional dependency allowance for a spouse and child due to his failure to provide current information requested after VA compensation benefits were awarded.

The Board granted service connection for IBS, left heel bone spur, and blepharitis.

The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities, including IBS, GERD, and diverticulosis on the basis that these conditions are not related to service or any other factor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and gastrointestinal disorders were denied. The claim for higher initial ratings for generalized anxiety disorder, right wrist ganglion excision, and hypertension with atrial flutter was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 19, 2004 for the award of service connection for irritable bowel disease was granted. The effective date is set at May 13, 1996.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating for fibromyalgia, bilateral hip pain, and IBS was upheld at 40 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional disabilities, including erectile dysfunction and hernia, were not caused by VA medical treatment in May 1995. The evidence did not show any fault on the part of VA or an unforeseeable event.