IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2009

The Veteran's kidney stones are not related to his service or any service-connected condition. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his claimed anxiety disorder, hypertension, familial tremor, and IBS (abdominal muscle spasms).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and a sleep disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's GERD and IBS are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD, thus denying service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's current symptoms are more closely related to irritable bowel syndrome, not his service-connected hemorroidectomy. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for irritable bowel syndrome and bowel incontinence, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The decision found that the Veteran's pre-existing IBS did not warrant an increase in evaluation, while his current bowel incontinence warranted a 30% evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and gastrointestinal disability, other than the service-connected residuals of ventral hernia repair complicated by small bowel obstruction, are denied. The claim for a compensable rating for migraine headaches is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's IBS and fibromyalgia are separate disabilities from his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, warranting separate disability ratings. The Veteran is now rated at a 40 percent for fibromyalgia.

The Board found no evidence of a current skin disability and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed skin rash. The claim for service connection for IBS was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection was denied. The claim of a higher initial rating for primary insomnia was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to decision issuance.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is currently evaluated at a 30 percent rating, which reflects the severity of his symptoms as productive daily diarrhea but not more or less constant abdominal distress. The current evaluation adequately captures the impact on employment and quality of life.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia and irritable bowel syndrome, with polypectomy, are currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling. The Board denied an increased evaluation for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound to the abdominal cavity with laparotomy is manifested by irritable bowel syndrome and hiatal hernia, warranting a 10 percent rating for each condition. The combined evaluation results in a total of 40 percent disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran withdrew her claim for entitlement to service connection for muscle spasms of the bilateral legs during her Board hearing. The remaining issues are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran engaged in combat and has a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD. Service connection is also granted for IBS as secondary to PTSD. The claim for a sleep disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, were denied. The Board found no current disability or evidence of such a condition in the record.

The VA determined that there is no current disability related to the Veteran's in-service rib fracture, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to clarify the significance of 'clo' testing and antral gastritis diagnosis, as well as to consider whether service connection can be granted based on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO in Atlanta, Georgia, for an appropriate hearing and further development.