IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) and IBS were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition of PTSD or IBS, nor could he establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for 1151 compensation is granted as her gall bladder surgery in February 1997 resulted in additional disability, and the proximate cause of this disability was reasonably foreseeable.

The Board has withdrawn the appellant's appeal for PTSD and denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, as well as IBS. The Board found no nexus between the appellant's active military duty and his currently shown psychiatric disorders or IBS.

The Veteran's service records do not show any diagnosis of a disability manifested by right side pain, to include irritable bowel syndrome. The Board finds that the current claimed condition is not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need to verify his claimed stressors and obtain medical records. The Board will then determine if he has a current psychiatric disorder related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Veteran's claim for a separate evaluation for diverticulitis was denied, and his current rating of 30 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome, hiatal hernia, H-pylori, and diverticulitis is upheld. The issue of increased ratings for sinusitis/allergic rhinitis remains pending.

The Veteran seeks service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, which he contends had its origin during his period of active military service. The case is being remanded to provide a VA examination and address the nature and etiology of the claimed condition.

The Veteran's symptoms have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses, and the Board finds that he does not have a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness related to his service in Southwest Asia.

The Board found that the effective date of December 16, 2005 is the earliest effective date assignable for service connection of a pulmonary condition, claimed as due to asbestos exposure.,Service connection was granted for a gastrointestinal disorder, including irritable bowel syndrome. However, it was determined that this condition is not related to active service or to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his left ankle disability, irritable bowel syndrome, nonspecific dermatitis of the back (formerly described as vitiligo), and sediment deposits on the brain with enlarged sella turcica and headaches do not warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The Board found that the symptoms claimed by the Veteran are not supported by a current diagnosis of CFS or IBS, and that any fatigue experienced is related to his service-connected PTSD with depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his personnel file and records of exposure in service or jobs, to include asbestos, herbicides, mustard gas, VX gas, white phosphorous or other caustic chemicals. The Veteran must also be afforded a VA examination.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to adenocarcinoma of the colon, which is not service-connected. The Board found that none of his service-connected conditions caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS, claimed as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, has been denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 21, 2007 for the award of service connection for gastrointestinal disorders is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, sinusitis, and facial nerve disability secondary to TMJ surgery are all granted with increased ratings. The appeal for right shoulder sprain, right knee arthritis, IBS, and the postoperative scar is dismissed due to withdrawal of appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no competent and persuasive evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's representative now contends that the Veteran has Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) secondary to her service-connected PTSD. The RO did not adjudicate this issue, and a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has IBS and whether it is related to her service-connected PTSD.