IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has not been manifested by moderate symptoms, and the Board finds that the disability most nearly approximates a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's IBS is presumed to have been incurred in active service due to his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a GI disorder, including GERD and irritable bowel syndrome, was denied. However, his PTSD was granted with a rating of 70 percent effective from April 8, 2010. The TDIU claim is considered granted due to the combined effect of these conditions.

The Veteran's depression is as likely as not caused by his service-connected disorders, and the Board has granted service connection for depression on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's substantive appeal regarding service connection for various conditions was not timely filed, and the Board finds it denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including articulation disorder (hip), fatigue and low energy, hyperlipidemia, IBS, or diverticulitis. Therefore, his claims are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was withdrawn by the appellant. The Board has not addressed this issue further.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not established as secondary to a service-connected disability or due to a disease or injury in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, anxiety disorder, status-post PFPS of the left knee, GERD with irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches, and psoriatic arthritis.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain further medical opinion evidence regarding whether the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroenteritis and irritable bowel syndrome, are related to his service, specifically the lightning strike he experienced during service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except peripheral neuropathy of the abdomen and irritable bowel syndrome have been remanded due to a need for further verification regarding herbicide exposure. The appeal for these two conditions has been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the claim for development of additional evidence, including obtaining records of treatment at a local emergency department and Boise VAMC. The Veteran is to have a new VA examination to determine current manifestations of his digestive system disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues include secondary service connection for a right knee disorder, residuals of pleurodesis for pneumothorax, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux esophagitis, esophageal ulcers, gastritis, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for scoliosis. The claim for increased evaluation for GERD and IBS prior to January 11, 2012 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for osteochondroma right femur, pulmonary tuberculosis, obstruction of teeth, and chronic colon/irritable bowel problems have been granted. The claims were reopened based on new evidence but the merits of these claims are not addressed as no new facts were provided.

The Board found that the Veteran's IBS is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to the appellant's failure to provide necessary identifying information and releases for critical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal and low back disabilities do not render him unemployable for VA purposes, as he is capable of performing sedentary work despite his symptoms.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including determining whether a specific in-service stressor exists and corroborating it.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new opinion on whether the Veteran's back disability is caused or aggravated by her service-connected IBS.