IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition. However, the Veteran's current knee and ankle conditions are not related to her active duty service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and ischemic heart disease, contributed to his death due to a motor vehicle accident. The cause of death is therefore determined to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the appellant's desire for a videoconference hearing before a Member of the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his undiagnosed illness with irritable bowel symptoms, headache, general fatigue, chronic multisymptom joint pain of the upper and lower extremities, and chronic cough. The claim will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's IBS has been manifested as moderate intermittent diarrhea, constipation, gas, and abdominal pain. The current rating of 10 percent is adequate to evaluate the disability under consideration at all pertinent points.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues of service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 that are pending before a different Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen and establish service connection for asthma, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, right hand disability, left shoulder disability, and right foot disability. The remaining issues are pending further review.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each. The Board finds that the evidence is against a finding of entitlement to higher ratings based on additional limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met, and his PTSD was rated as 70 percent disabling.

The claims for increased rating for IBS, reopening of the claim for bilateral knee disability, and reopening of the claim for headaches are REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dislocated ribs have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been dismissed due to his withdrawal request.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and granted service connection based on direct evidence showing current diagnoses of diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome, which are linked to symptoms experienced during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's IBS is due to Gulf War Syndrome and therefore service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of service connection for gastritis remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD and IBS, was not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The evidence did not support a connection between his current GI disorders and his in-service appendectomy.

The Veteran's ulcerative colitis, IBS, and GERD were not rated higher than the current 30 percent. His respiratory disability was also not rated higher than the current 60 percent. The Board denied all claims for increase.

The Veteran's IBS and GERD have been granted a 30 percent disability rating, effective the date of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for prostatitis and IBS as secondary to the service-connected prostatitis. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and depressive disorder have rendered him unemployable for substantially gainful employment.