IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that further development of the Veteran's claims is warranted, including obtaining outstanding private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess her IBS with colitis disability. The case is REMANDED for these actions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and bilateral knee condition. The coccygeal pilonidal cyst claim is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including an examination and readjudication of his claims. The issues include entitlement to SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status, as well as increased disability ratings for dysthymic disorder, mucous colitis (irritable bowel syndrome), epilepsy, and service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate examination and missing records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including sleep impairment, numbness of the lower extremities, headaches, swelling of the lower extremities, periodic accelerated heart rate, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence addressing whether the Veteran's IBS and GERD are related to service-connected PTSD, or if they were originally incurred in service. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding the denial of service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder to include gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claim, including the evaluation of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and hemorrhoids as separate disabilities from his service-connected splenectomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran incurred an injury to the ribs in service and continues to have a current disability, thus granting service connection for residuals of an injury to the ribs.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), finding that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation. The appeal was also remanded for further action on other issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's IBS warranted an initial rating of 10% and denied higher ratings, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 30% rating.

The Veteran's death was not due to willful misconduct, and at the time of his death he had service-connected disabilities rated as 80 percent disabling. However, he did not meet the duration requirements for a total disability rating under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to clarify the nature and etiology of his bowel disorder, including whether it preexisted service or had its onset during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if his service-connected disabilities have caused him to be permanently bedridden, in need of regular aid and attendance, or rendered him permanently housebound for special monthly compensation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for either Major Depressive Disorder or IBS.

The Veteran's right hand strain and IBS have been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for IBS effective September 23, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of increased ratings for irritable bowel syndrome and a low back disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to dress, undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, or attend to the wants of nature. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and an intestinal motility disorder/IBS, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected gastritis and duodenitis with hiatal hernia, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.