IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The effective date of this grant is April 20, 2010, but not earlier.

The Veteran's residuals of an appendectomy, including IBS and constipation, are found to be related to his service. The Board finds that the Veteran's current bowel problems, including hemorrhoids, are secondary to his service-connected residuals of an appendectomy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and irritable bowel syndrome, prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a gastrointestinal disability (IBS) is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's migraine headaches began in service and are related to her current condition.

The Veteran's bilateral shin splints and IBS have been rated with initial compensable ratings of 10 percent each, reflecting the severity of their symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of service connection for PTSD, chronic depressive disorder, chronic anxiety disorder, and bladder disorder secondary to service-connected adenocarcinoma of the prostate at a hearing before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for IBS, GERD, and a bilateral eye disability as they are not related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining National Guard and Reserve service records, providing an addendum opinion regarding his right foot gout, right ankle condition, and stomach condition, and readjudicating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's IBS is related to his service-connected GERD, and whether it was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's IBS is currently rated at the highest possible evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7319, which allows for a maximum of 30 percent. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms and does not warrant an increase.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.,Service connection cannot be established as the Veteran did not provide any treatment records indicating he currently suffers from these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection are being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and right ankle disabilities, as well as initial ratings for IBS and testicular pain. The claims for earlier effective dates were also denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but he is otherwise able to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment despite service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's hemorrhoids and IBS were not related to service, as her symptoms did not start during or immediately after her deployment. The conditions are considered direct service connection cases.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is being remanded to allow the VA to adjudicate a secondary service connection claim related to his PTSD. The primary issue remains whether he incurred injuries during service and if those injuries are connected to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right elbow disability, psychiatric disability, and IBS were all granted initial ratings prior to April 28, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar myositis with painful motion, cervical and upper back myositis, irritable bowel syndrome, left and right C8-T1 radiculopathy, a left varicocelectomy scar, allergic rhinitis, and left and right L5-S1 radiculopathy, preclude the Veteran from securing or following gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's SNPA is not proximately caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately caused by her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for his gastric ulcer, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by medication taken to treat his service-connected right and left heel spurs with plantar fasciitis.