IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for a digestive disorder, shoulder disability, and right foot disability. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as he did not meet the basic eligibility requirements.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome was initially granted with a noncompensable rating, and later upgraded to a 10 percent rating since June 26, 2008. The claimant has been found competent to report his symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, rectal polyp, reflux esophagitis, hematochezia, gastritis, and duodenal ulcer (claimed as abdominal pain) has been granted by the RO in August 2010. The issue of service connection for a chronic abdominal disorder to include an abdominal growth, post-operative colon polyp residuals, and irritable bowel syndrome is now moot.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is manifested by constant constipation and abdominal distress without diarrhea, warranting a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied. The Board found that the diabetes mellitus was not due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault during his 1996 VA hospitalization. Cardiomegaly and a back disorder are not service-connected. The Veteran's esophagitis is not manifested by ulceration of the lower esophagus, no dilations have been required, and it does not meet criteria for a separate compensable rating. GERD with IBS does not warrant an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a combined schedular 100 percent evaluation was denied as there has been no adjustment of any evaluation assigned for service connected disabilities prior to October 30, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, psychiatric disorder (including depression and intermittent explosive disorder), right shoulder disorder (including right subscapularis myalgia), memory loss, fatigue, headaches, numbness of the hands and arms, upper gastrointestinal disorders, lower gastrointestinal disorders, hair loss, and unexplained chronic multi-system illness. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Crohn's disease and related conditions is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a GI disability was granted with a 0 percent evaluation prior to May 9, 2007. After May 9, 2007, the Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent evaluation for his service-connected GI disability.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, but granted a 70 percent rating from October 16, 2003. The claim for TDIU due to psychiatric disability is still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism requires continuous medication for control, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of specific symptoms such as fatigue, constipation, and mental sluggishness.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to her service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a digestive symptom disorder, including gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and small hiatal hernia (claimed as stomach problems with chronic diarrhea), is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has ordered a remand for the veteran to be examined and receive an opinion regarding her gastrointestinal disability, specifically irritable bowel syndrome and colitis. The examination will determine if any current gastrointestinal disorder pre-existed service or was incurred during service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, claimed as spastic colon, was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's GI disorder is not related to his service or service-connected depression, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected left ear hearing loss and panic disorder without agoraphobia, as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied right ear hearing loss claim. The Board also denied service connection for GERD or IBS and alcoholism.

The Veteran's GERD and IBS have been rated at 30 percent since November 8, 2007. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.