IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining treatment records.

The Veteran is seeking to have CUE found in rating decisions related to her service connection for tinnitus, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. The claims are being remanded for the RO to provide a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and medical opinions regarding his gastrointestinal disabilities, including IBS. The examiner will need to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing GERD was aggravated by service and whether any current gastrointestinal disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and IBS are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's IBS is due to his service-connected PTSD and grants service connection for IBS.

The Veteran's appeals regarding his initial rating for adjustment disorder, reopening of previously denied claims for bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities, and service connection for tinnitus were all denied due to various procedural issues and lack of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to walk and use a cane.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of IBS and his symptoms are attributed to other known diagnoses. He is not entitled to service connection for IBS or chronic diarrhea with abdominal pain and flatus due to an undiagnosed illness, a qualifying chronic disability, or that his symptoms are etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has granted increased ratings for PTSD, TBI, and IBS/GERD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Social Security Administration and scheduling a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% from November 23, 2009 to March 16, 2010 and at 50% thereafter. The IBS with associated GERD was rated at 30%. Both conditions were granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for IBS/colitis was denied as the evidence did not support a finding of severe ulcerative colitis or malnutrition, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7323. The current rating of 30 percent is the highest available based on the criteria set forth in Diagnostic Code 7319.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD with hiatal hernia, irritable bowel syndrome, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), as well as any associated service treatment records. The VA will also schedule examinations to assess the current status of his claimed conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, diabetes, and lower intestinal disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of his claim for left hip disability which was granted. The effective dates for both IBS and left hip disability are set at the date each claim was received.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied because the emergency room visit on July 11, 2010, did not meet the criteria for an emergency medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, as well as increased ratings for migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of dental trauma other than already service-connected jaw locking. The claim for service connection for IBS is denied as it is not established that the condition is secondary to her service-connected migraine headaches.