IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to his request for a hearing and need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravates her gastrointestinal disorders (GERD and IBS).

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities, which include a shell fragment wound of the posterior right hemithorax with resection of two ribs and lobectomy, and muscle groups II and IV injuries of the right scapula.

The Veteran's IBS and dermatitis of the neck were granted initial compensable ratings, while his claims for knee DJD, left ankle sprain, muscle pain, and insomnia are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, an increased rating for peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and a prior effective date for PUD. The Veteran was also denied secondary service connection for hiatal hernia, cholecystectomy, irritable bowel syndrome, right hip subtrochanteric bursitis, and anxiety with panic attacks.

The Board has determined that further development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service records and conducting medical examinations, is necessary to properly adjudicate these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim for a higher rating for right knee strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, PTSD, IBS, sinusitis, and chronic allergic rhinitis. The Veteran was not granted any disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right pleural cavity with partial resection of ribs eight and nine, as well as his bilateral hearing loss from December 11, 2007 to the present, was denied. The maximum schedular rating of 20 percent is assigned for the gunshot wound condition.

The Veteran's GERD/Barrett's esophagus and gallbladder disease were not shown to be related to service, and the Board found no evidence of onset during service. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are denied as there is no credible evidence that they began in service.,PTSD and IBS claims are both pending due to insufficient information.

The Veteran's IBS and gastrointestinal disorder were not shown to be related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, but denied a retroactive effective date earlier than May 19, 2004.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has been rated at the maximum schedular rating since March 2, 2006. The left foot disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the appellant did not have a diagnosed mental condition, including PTSD. The claims for sexual dysfunction and gastrointestinal conditions were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or relationship to service. The claim for acid reflux was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The back condition and tinnitus claims were similarly denied.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed disabilities, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by active service and did not manifest until many years after service. The claims based on undiagnosed illness are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board found no evidence of erectile dysfunction, hypertension, diverticulitis, diverticulosis, or irritable bowel condition being incurred during active military service. The Veteran's current conditions were not determined to be caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was granted with an effective date of January 29, 1992, which is the day following his discharge from active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal condition (secondary to PTSD), right foot condition, headaches, and neuropathy of the left arm. The decision also noted that tinnitus was not granted as it did not meet the criteria for a grant of service connection prior to January 4, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of cholecystectomy with scars was denied as his condition is currently evaluated at noncompensable (0%) and he has no current symptoms or impairment.