IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is secondary to his service-connected IBS. The VA examiners provided opinions supporting this finding.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain, attributing it to diagnosed conditions not etiologically related to service. The claim for olfactory impairment was remanded by the Court and is pending.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was granted.

The Veteran's right tarsal tunnel syndrome with peroneal neuropathy and complex regional pain is currently rated at 20 percent, which adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.,For GERD and IBS, a rating of 30 percent has been granted effective October 3, 2011. The Veteran's condition continues to meet the criteria for this higher rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim for service connection for IBS and awarded an effective date of June 28, 1993. The earlier effective date for MDD is also granted.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, as he meets the schedular criteria for a grant of TDIU since May 12, 2011. The Veteran has service-connected PTSD and IBS, which do not preclude employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome has been reopened, and his rating for psychiatric disability has been increased to 70 percent effective as of January 25, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IBS, and DJD of the lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, as well as his service connection claim for IBS, was granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting gunshot wounds to the back, buttock and right ribs did not meet the criteria for service connection as they were not aggravated by his active duty service. The claim for residuals of stab wounds to the left chest is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including obtaining dates of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) with the New Jersey National Guard. The Veteran's representative was also given an opportunity to review the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic gastritis with irritable bowel syndrome was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is awarded SMC-O based on the need for two separate SMC-L awards due to loss of use of both feet and need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral inguinal herniography residuals did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating prior to March 19, 2009. From March 19, 2009, there is no legal entitlement to a compensable rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral inguinal herniography residuals have not required at least one month of convalescence or resulted in severe postoperative residuals as per VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS and migraines are currently rated at 30 percent effective October 20, 2015. The Veteran is granted a 30 percent evaluation for his IBS prior to that date, but not for an increased rating. For the period on appeal, prior to October 20, 2015, the Veteran's migraines are rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, including as due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness resulting from Persian Gulf War service.

The Veteran's service-connected postoperative residual scars related to excision of chondroma of the bilateral 12th ribs are rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his service treatment records.