IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, IBS, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The claim for bladder cancer is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, and migraine headaches. The remaining issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding fibromyalgia, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and headaches. The appeal for an initial compensable rating for status post left forearm injury residuals was also withdrawn.

The Veteran's COPD is granted as service connected. The claims for IBS and an acquired psychiatric disability are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for maxillary sinusitis and irritable bowel syndrome have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all remaining issues, including those related to increased ratings and service connection. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, irritable bowel syndrome, and major depressive disorder, have rendered him unemployable.

The Veteran's IBS is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted due to the nature and frequency of his symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including fibromyalgia, malaria, brucellosis, Coxiella burnetii, chronic fatigue syndrome, mycobacterium tuberculosis, sleep apnea, angina pectoris, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), amyloidosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chloracne, and hemorrhage as there is no probative evidence of current disabilities for any period on appeal.

This decision grants service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and remands the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, left shoulder disability, and myofascial syndrome. The Veteran's IBS is presumed due to Gulf War exposure. Service connection for his other conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability is granted as new and material evidence has been submitted. The Veteran was denied service connection in December 1993 due to lack of evidence, but the current submission includes allegations by the Veteran regarding an injury during military training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and additional medical records establishing a current back disability.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for an eye disability is denied. The Veteran has been diagnosed with refractive error, mild allergic conjunctivitis, bilateral senile cataracts, and open angle glaucoma suspected. His current hearing loss was not caused by or related to his diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as there is evidence of a current disability (sensorineural hearing loss) and in-service acoustic trauma has been conceded. The Veteran's hearing was normal at discharge, but he developed sensorineural hearing loss many years after service without continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability (tinnitus).,The Veteran's claim of service connection for Barrett's esophagus is denied. The Veteran does not have, and has not had during the period on appeal, a disability consisting of colon polyps.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for colon polyps, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, and GERD are all denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or any link to his active service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is denied. The Veteran does not have, and has not had during the period on appeal, a disability consisting of colon polyps.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for diverticulitis is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or any link to his active service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for hemorrhoids is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or any link to his active service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for GERD is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or any link to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his honorable periods of service and for health care under Chapter 17, Title 38, United States Code.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection for IBS was also denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The appeal for an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids is dismissed. An initial compensable rating of no higher than 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted, and the Veteran's right knee contusion and migraines are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to a lack of recent medical records and unclear diagnoses in the Veteran's VA treatment records.

The Veteran's disorder of the rectum and anus, to include impairment of sphincter control, is rated at 60 percent effective June 22, 2015. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed. The Board has remanded several issues including vertigo, colitis, hemorrhoids (secondary to colitis), fungal infections of the toenails, and thyroid condition post thyroidectomy due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating under DC 7319.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for an eating disorder. The remaining issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for new VA examinations.