IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and there are no allegations of errors of fact or law for appellate consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's IBS and GERD did not manifest during service or are related to any incident of service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. Service connection for these conditions is therefore denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service connected. The upper gastrointestinal disability (GERD) and lower gastrointestinal disability (intestinal hypermobility, gastroenteritis, and irritable bowel syndrome) are both service-connected as separate disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the cyst of the mid back and chest pains have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted secondary service connection for irritable bowel syndrome as a result of medication from his service-connected disabilities. He also has been awarded a 60 percent rating for degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine, effective January 15, 2002.,Effective October 30, 2006, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation benefits by reason of being permanently housebound.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, and no nexus between the Veteran's claimed IBS condition and his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal seeking service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As a result, the Board dismisses this matter.

The Board has withdrawn the claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic sinusitis and low back disability due to a request by the Veteran's representative. The Veteran is found to have irritable bowel syndrome, which was incurred in military service and is considered a qualifying chronic disability under Persian Gulf War criteria. Neurological symptoms in both upper and lower extremities are also considered as an undiagnosed illness related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and gastrointestinal (IBS) disorders are not related to service or service-connected disabilities. However, hypertension is found to be unrelated to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability, GERD with Schatzki's ring and hiatal hernia, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for IBS, finding that the current schedular rating of 30 percent adequately describes the Veteran's disability level and symptomatology.

The Veteran is currently receiving the highest schedular rating for IBS, which is 30 percent. The Board finds that his symptoms have not warranted a higher rating since November 26, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the functional effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted service connection as a qualifying chronic disability due to undiagnosed illness. Service connection for depression secondary to IBS is pending.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including peptic ulcer disease and irritable bowel syndrome, is found to be related to service. The post-operative residuals of gall bladder removal and hemorrhoids are also found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher evaluations or additional benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bowel disability is related to his in-service illness, and service connection for a disability manifested by diarrhea, to include irritable bowel syndrome, is granted. The initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance in 2013 was denied as the items claimed did not qualify under VA regulations. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information from a VA examiner or designee of the Undersecretary for Health.

The Veteran's IBS was rated at 30 percent from December 11, 2006 to May 21, 2013, with the Board finding that his symptoms of severe alternating diarrhea and constipation warranted this rating.