IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of IBS. The appeals for Meniere's disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disabilities. The claims for bilateral wrist disability, breathing disability (including allergic rhinitis and sinusitis), vision loss disability, cervical spine disability, dizziness, sleep disability, degenerative arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, lower extremities, elbow disability, scoliosis, and traumatic brain injury are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and IBS. A new VA examination will be scheduled to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations. The issues include service connection for a mouth lesion, PTSD, GERD, TBI, left shoulder arthritis, scars from basal cell carcinoma, and TDIU.

The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability is granted. The claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, sleep disturbances, IBS, and left ankle fracture residuals are dismissed.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination and remanded the case due to the lack of probative value in the previous examiner's opinion. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which may be secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was likely caused by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants DIC benefits on this basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required to determine if the Veteran's IBS had its onset during active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and remands several issues for further action.

The Board has determined that there are issues to be resolved and thus, the case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has been granted service connection. Service connection for fibromyalgia, acid reflux, and other conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and determining whether the Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms are related to his military service, particularly his service in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's IBS has been rated at 10 percent since the period on appeal, which is the maximum non-compensable rating available for moderate IBS.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of Ischemic Heart Disease, hypertension, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to render him unemployable, but further examination is needed for some of the issues.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hypertension was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, as it is unclear if there is a current diagnosis and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the issues of higher initial ratings and remand for additional examinations are still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD, with alcohol use disorder, IBS, and ED are all granted as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II.,Obstructive sleep apnea is denied as the evidence does not support a connection with service.,Hypertension is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis and no continuity of symptomatology.,High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) is considered a laboratory finding and not a current disability for VA purposes.,A stomach condition other than irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diverticulitis and diverticulosis is denied as there is no evidence of such a condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's current right knee disability is not attributable to disease or injury sustained during his period of service, and thus service connection is denied.