IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2013

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome was initially rated at 10 percent prior to April 3, 2008 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The VA granted all the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO. The initial rating of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease remains unchanged.

The Veteran's IBS with GERD is rated at 30 percent from March 10, 2010. His migraine headaches are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the nature and extent of his PTSD and gastrointestinal disability.

The Veteran's status post fractured ribs have been rated at 10 percent since the award of service connection, reflecting residual pain that limits her activities of daily living without affecting motion or function in the chest area.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated at 30 percent since the initial rating decision, and his irritable bowel syndrome is now service-connected as secondary to a major depressive disorder.,GERD symptoms include dysphagia, pyrosis (heartburn), regurgitation or vomiting, and substernal, arm, or shoulder pain.

The Board has granted service connection for epilepsy, depression as secondary to epilepsy, and IBS as secondary to epilepsy.

The Veteran's IBS is rated at 30 percent since January 4, 2012. The Board granted service connection for ankylosing spondylitis and associated sacroiliac and hip joint disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing he currently has the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder alone renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate effective July 24, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of gall bladder removal and irritable bowel syndrome secondary to gall bladder removal, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to be the primary cause of his neurological symptoms in the upper extremities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and irritable bowel syndrome. Service connection for a brain tumor was not established.

The Board has remanded the case due to need for additional development, including obtaining service records and scheduling medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected conditions did not warrant a higher rating or additional service connection. The scar of the left parietal area of the scalp, while present, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diverticulitis, colitis, and IBS have been denied. However, the Veteran's renal/ureter calculi are presumed to be due to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and hypertension are being reviewed.

The Veteran's GERD and IBS have been rated at a noncompensable (10%) level, as the symptoms are considered mild with occasional disturbance of bowel function.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's IBS was granted a 10 percent rating from February 1, 2005 to April 12, 2010 and is not entitled to higher ratings. The Veteran's cervical spine DJD received a 10 percent rating from February 1, 2005 to April 12, 2010 and is not entitled to higher ratings.