IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the current severity of his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being deferred as additional development and resolution of other disability claims are needed. The effective date for service connection will be determined once the RO completes the necessary actions.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is presumed to have been incurred in active duty service. The Veteran's disability manifested by fatigue has not been medically attributed to a known clinical diagnosis, but the Board finds that it may be due to undiagnosed illness and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal on the issues of service connection for GERD, bile reflux, and irritable bowel syndrome as secondary to a service-connected disability and service connection for a dental disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability. The Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a VA examination and ensuring compliance with all VCAA duties. The Veteran's claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines have been rated at a maximum of 30 percent since January 22, 2010. The effective date for this rating is January 22, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition, sexual dysfunction, and a back disability. It also denied secondary service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran does not have a current small bowel obstruction. Her service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is established, and her testimony regarding the small bowel obstruction was not sufficient to establish a diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression is manifested by sleep disturbance, depressed mood, anxiety, exaggerated startle response, and hypervigilance, resulting in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. He was granted a 30 percent evaluation for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for IBS and remanded her claims for a new VA examination. The Veteran is also seeking an increased rating for her intestinal polyps.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine her employability due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine condition, IBS, and status post anal fissure repair. The initial ratings assigned are 10 percent for IBS and noncompensable for status post anal fissure repair.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Crohn's disease is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bladder dysfunction, headaches, and bowel dysfunction (IBS) have been rated at the maximum available benefit since May 18, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between any of these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues that had been remanded by the Board, including service connection claims and a higher evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder and elbow disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the left arm.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle fasciculations and routine muscle spasms, as well as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during his military service or current diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS is manifested by multiple daily incidents of diarrhea, abdominal cramping, gas, and intermittent constipation. The Board has determined that the disability more nearly approximates a 30 percent rating.