IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2009

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, nonservice-connected death pension, and accrued benefits. The decision found no evidence linking the Veteran's fatal heart attack to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and a Persian Gulf examination. The claims will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome is denied as the criteria were not factually ascertainable prior to August 15, 2001.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head, broken ribs, trench foot, and tear gas exposure are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing current disabilities related to these conditions.,There is no evidence of any current disability associated with the claimed shrapnel wound to the head or exposure to tear gas. Service connection for these issues is not warranted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of broken ribs and trench foot are also denied as there is no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis or IBS, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The claims for increased evaluations for right shoulder bursitis and GERD were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS and GERD are manifested by symptoms productive of severe impairment of health, warranting a 60 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal was not timely submitted, and the RO has been instructed to re-adjudicate his claim with an opportunity for him to provide evidence of a change in address prior to the expiration of the appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including colon polyps, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and GERD. The decision noted that the Veteran had various gastrointestinal disorders since 1997 but did not find any evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome with colon polyps and diverticulosis have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including migraines, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, skin rash, and joint aches, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or an undiagnosed illness related to his service in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War era.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's compression fracture, T9, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia patella of the left knee, PTSD, tinnitus, and IBS. The Veteran's symptoms are linked to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ventricular hypertrophy with diastolic dysfunction, hypertension, and mitral valve regurgitation and dilated cardiomyopathy. The Veteran's diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome are not currently service connected.

The Board dismissed the appellant's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include depression. The appeals were withdrawn by the appellant prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the veteran's compensation benefits effective November [redacted], 2003, based on his conviction for a felony is proper.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for spinal strain, arthritis of the neck and shoulders, residuals of fractures of the left 7th-11th ribs, and rheumatoid arthritis. The appeals were not granted as the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the previously denied claims or establish service connection.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has been manifested by frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress and diarrhea. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeal for gastroenteritis and granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Florida Hospital South and providing a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from working. The issues of service connection for neuropathy, neurogenic bladder, IBS secondary to migraine headaches, depression, and alcoholism secondary to PTSD are also inextricably intertwined with the TDIU issue.