IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his active service, including a period of ACDUTRA. The claim for IBS remains pending as there was insufficient evidence provided by the VA examiner to determine if it is related to a period of ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted, with a disability rating of 20% for the cervical spine condition. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's IBS is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities involving diseases of his digestive system have been assigned a single 60 percent rating, which already includes his recurrent aphthous ulcers. A separate compensable rating is not warranted for these ulcers.

The Veteran's hypertension is service-connected and his irritable bowel syndrome is rated at 30% since April 11, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, IBS, and bladder disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected organic mood disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service connection determinations and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disability is rated at 10 percent, effective September 1, 2007. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for his gastrointestinal disorder, including hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), was denied prior to January 2, 2008. The Board found that the disability picture did not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating during this period.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has been rated at the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 7319, but is not entitled to a higher rating. The Veteran's chronic prostatitis has also been rated appropriately.

Your claims for service connection have been remanded to the RO. You will need to provide additional evidence and complete any necessary steps to perfect your appeal of the downstream claim for a higher initial rating for your low back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was remanded and is not addressed in this decision.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied as there is no evidence of current disability or a link to service. The Veteran currently has pes planus, irritable bowel syndrome, varicose veins, and hepatitis A.,The initial rating for the service-connected pes planus prior to April 5, 2007 was denied due to lack of moderate disability. After that date, it is rated as 10 percent disabling.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome beginning on May 9, 2011 was denied as the current disability picture does not meet criteria for a higher rating.,The initial compensable evaluation for varicose veins, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity were both denied due to lack of evidence of persistent edema or other disabling symptoms.,Service connection for hepatitis A was denied as there is no current disability.,Hepatitis A currently has an effective date of the day following the decision.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome with GERD is manifested by alternating diarrhea and constipation, with more or less constant abdominal distress. The Board grants a 30 percent rating for this condition, effective March 15, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected IBS and lumbar spine fracture, finding that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for increased ratings.

The Veteran's IBS is manifested by moderately severe symptoms, including constant abdominal pain and frequent diarrhea. The Board has awarded a 30 percent evaluation for the entire period under consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining claims due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's GERD with IBS is rated at 10 percent, effective from the day after separation. His right knee DJD remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial rating for GERD with hiatal hernia and diverticulosis was granted at a 30% level, effective from April 30, 1999. The appeal related to service connection for gastrointestinal disability other than GERD, hiatal hernia, and diverticulosis is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as there was no formal or informal claim submitted prior to March 31, 2008.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome was also denied due to the lack of credible evidence showing symptoms consistent with the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS was granted with an effective date of July 29, 2004, the date he filed his last claim. The earlier denial in December 1984 did not affect this decision.