IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2012

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS) were denied. The claim for increased evaluation of TMJ dysfunction was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to adjudication of the claims. The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, IBS, chronic headaches, depression, bilateral knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome are REMANDED.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are of such severity as to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome, a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, is presumed to have been incurred in active military service due to his participation in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board found that the Veteran's current intestinal disorders are not related to his service or any incident related thereto, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for jaw disability, scar on left side of head, right ear hearing disability, gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), and fungal disorder of the groin and toenails. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and a sleep disorder are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS was denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition. The Veteran's GERD has been rated based on its manifestations and symptoms, but the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for GERD was granted with an effective date of July 1, 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia and lumbosacral spine disabilities.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. The condition was present to a disabling degree for more than six months following service in the Persian Gulf War and is presumed to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and fractured ribs was denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other causative factors, leading to a denial.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities and determine the etiology of his gastrointestinal symptoms.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for an eye disorder was withdrawn. The VA has denied the appellant's claims for higher evaluations for his digestive system disability.,For the period prior to May 21, 2007, the VA found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. From May 21, 2007 to July 24, 2008, the VA also denied any higher evaluation than 30 percent. However, beginning September 1, 2008, the VA granted a 60 percent rating for the digestive system disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulitis were denied as these conditions are not related to his active service or service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is found to be the cause or aggravation of his left lower extremity neuropathy, right knee disability, cervical muscle strain, and carpal tunnel syndromes. Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has also been granted as secondary to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for irritable bowel syndrome is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a new examination and consideration of additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, epididymitis, and irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 5, 1995, for the award of service connection for IBS and assigned a rating. The claims for higher ratings for IBS are inextricably intertwined with this decision.