IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting a VA examination. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a recurrent gastrointestinal disorder, specifically Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's basic eligibility for educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is granted as he served on active duty for a minimum of 30 continuous days and was discharged under other than dishonorable conditions due to a service-connected disability (ulcerative colitis).

The Board has found that the Veteran's diagnosed back disability and irritable bowel syndrome are incurred in service, with a finding of equipoise on whether they had their onset during service or are otherwise etiologically related to his active service. The issues regarding PTSD rating and service connection for back disability and IBS have been addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, have been granted. The claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to IBS is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service treatment records and VA/privately obtained medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and finds that the Veteran's current right ankle disorder is related to his in-service injury. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, IBS, GERD, prostatitis, hypertension, degenerative arthritis of right acromioclavicular joints, and triceps muscle injury are addressed on remand.

The Veteran's IBS and PTSD have been granted service connection, with the presumption of service connection for IBS due to Persian Gulf War exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for an eye disorder and a higher initial evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome, both effective October 1, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including cervical spine or neck condition, thoracolumbar spine or back condition, bilateral eye disorder, irritable bowel syndrome and GERD, prostate condition with incontinence, recurring skin lesions and sores, migraine headaches, insomnia, anxiety and depression, and temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). The appeal is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for a low back disability, allergic rhinitis, and left shoulder impingement syndrome with osteoarthritis. The remaining issues are either not addressed or remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is aggravated by medications used to treat her service-connected migraine headaches, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including back disability, hypertension, bilateral foot disability, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and memory loss. The Board has ordered the VA to obtain all relevant medical records and re-adjudicate the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, skin cancer, and PTSD are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a gastrointestinal disability, including as due to an undiagnosed illness. He also seeks an increased rating for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left hip.,The Veteran contends that he incurred obstructive sleep apnea during active service or, alternatively, his service-connected sinusitis caused or aggravated (permanently worsened) his obstructive sleep apnea. He also contends that he incurred a gastrointestinal disability as a result of an undiagnosed illness initially experienced while deployed to the southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.,The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left hip.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and increased ratings for fibromyalgia, GERD with duodenitis and IBS, and chronic adjustment disorder with depressed mood were denied. The Board found that the evidence was against a finding of direct service connection for glaucoma and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for fibromyalgia or an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for GERD with duodenitis and IBS.

The Veteran's claims for bipolar disorder, GERD, IBS, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to service or service-connected conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient cooperation during VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service and thus cannot establish service connection. For IBS, the claim is remanded as there are outstanding VA treatment records from 2014 onwards.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and issuing a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation for convalescence following hernia repair surgery is being remanded due to the need for clarification or a new examination regarding the relationship between his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome and the hernia.