IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, total colectomy with end ileostomy, CMV, and NASH as secondary to his service-connected ulcerative colitis.

The Board has remanded the case for a video conference hearing and will not make a determination on the merits of the service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are shown as likely as not to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her IBS, arthritis of the low back, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The appeals are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, IBS, left knee disability, right leg disability, low back disability, and sleep apnea have been denied as they are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's IBS is secondary to his service-connected subtotal gastrectomy, and he has a current diagnosis of depression. The claim for service connection for these conditions are granted.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the highest schedular rating available, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular evaluation in excess of 30 percent for her service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to March 4, 2014 is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's IBS is at least as likely as not related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is a qualifying chronic disability of a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for joint pain will be remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of dislocated left shoulder and residuals of broken ribs, finding that the Veteran's statements concerning his combat injuries are consistent with his service. The claim for cuts on the left foot, hands, and face is denied as there is no competent evidence of current fungal infections in the ears.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and thus grants entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's IBS was increased to a 30 percent rating effective December 21, 2015. His cervical spine disability remains at a 10 percent rating.,The Veteran is not entitled to TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for multiple conditions, including right wrist disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, aching joints, right carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle spasms of the legs, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and muscle spasms of the arms.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eczema, and onychomycosis are all found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination and opinion are necessary for the IBS and skin condition claims due to lack of consideration of service treatment records, and the need to differentiate between congenital defects and diseases.

The Veteran's IBS with GERD, hiatal hernia, colonic atony with fecal impaction and incontinence of stool, and pelvic floor dysfunction is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board has determined that a higher rating of 60 percent is warranted based on the severity of her symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that the earliest date of claim was June 17, 2009.