IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2017

The Veteran's strongyloides infection, claimed as IBS, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board has determined that a 30 percent rating is warranted based on severe symptoms including abdominal/epigastric pain, bloating, alternating constipation and diarrhea, rectal bleeding, bloody stool, and gas.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral vision impairment, bilateral hearing loss, acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and heart condition due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left hip disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosed condition of hemorrhoids. His claimed hemorrhoids were previously diagnosed in 1998.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and assigned a 10% evaluation effective March 2, 2017. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome have resulted in very frequent prostrating attacks, causing severe economic inadaptability prior to July 8, 2014. The Board granted a TDIU effective July 8, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS based on new and material evidence. The Veteran's current abdominal issues are linked to his in-service stomach problems.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to incomplete evaluations of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including their impact on his ability to work. The appeal is now pending again.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a right wrist disorder of sclerosis of the scaphoid, bilateral foot disorders (DJD and hallux rigidus), obstructive sleep apnea, and IBS as due to a qualifying chronic disability.,Reasoning: The evidence shows that the Veteran experienced symptoms during service and has current diagnoses related to these conditions. The criteria for presumptive service connection are met.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a chronic intestinal disorder, claimed as IBS, to include as secondary to service-connected GERD with Barrett's esophagus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher initial ratings for fibromyalgia with irritable bowel syndrome and major depressive disorder, finding that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for fibromyalgia with irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from VA facilities and any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, Gulf War Syndrome, left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, and PTSD with depressive disorder were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have and has never had any diagnosed conditions of brucellosis, CFS, or IBS. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.,The Veteran's in-service complaints were attributed to mechanical back pain, mild intermittent constipation, gastroenteritis, and other known etiologies.

The Board found that the Veteran's IBS was not manifested in service and is not shown to be related to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for GERD secondary to PTSD was remanded.

The Veteran's IBS with peptic ulcer was granted a 30% evaluation effective January 5, 2015. Prior to this date, the disability picture did not warrant any compensation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The other issues were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied. The Board granted a 10% evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome effective November 18, 2016, but denied an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current upper and lower gastrointestinal disorders are not related to service, including her in-service peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is related to service, and to identify any current gastrointestinal disabilities.