IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left knee condition, right knee condition, fecal incontinence, IBS, and urinary incontinence, all of which were deemed not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 28, 2010 for a 30 percent rating for IBS, GERD, and duodenitis. The claim was also denied for an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's IBS and essential tremors are being remanded for further evaluation as the current evidence is insufficient to determine their severity or etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right arm condition, including tendonitis, has been denied.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran’s PTSD exacerbates her irritable bowel syndrome.,A rating of 20 percent, and no higher, is granted for right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome.,A rating of 20 percent, and no higher, is granted for cervical spine strain.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition (abnormal kyphosis), hemorrhoids, chronic anxiety-induced indigestion, increased urinary frequency, and anxiety disorder.,,,,

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy, IBS, and PCT are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.,Service connection for myocardial chest pain and RUE disorder is denied.,Service connection for cold injury residuals is denied.

The Veteran's low back strain has been granted service connection.,Service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it is not a compensable disability.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted service connection, and the rating for hypothyroidism remains at 10 percent. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and asthma as there was no current disability found by VA examiners. The Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation higher than 70 percent for PTSD were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lung scarring, IBS, and familial tremors due to a lack of nexus between the conditions and service. The Veteran's exposure to noise during service was conceded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Board has identified several issues that require further examination and evidence, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, right shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, low back disabilities, CFS, IBS, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, and she is granted a TDIU rating since November 1, 2012. The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer with vagotomy and pyloroplasty, and dumping syndrome is granted a 60 percent evaluation. The secondary service connection claims for acid reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are denied as these symptoms have already been considered in the increased rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and restless leg syndrome was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis with sinusitis. A 40 percent disability rating is granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from March 8, 2013.

The Veteran's Crohn’s disease was rated at 30 percent prior to January 29, 2013. The Board found that the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating as it only manifested in severe diarrhea and abdominal distress.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue and IBS are granted, while his claims for liver dysfunction, sinusitis, and hyperglycemia are denied. The Board found that the Veteran had objective indications of chronic disability related to undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for IBS is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and Social Security Administration records.

The previously denied claims for back strain, diabetes mellitus type II, and an acquired mental health condition are reopened. The claim of service connection for asthma is denied.,The previously denied claims for sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, and myasthenia gravis are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diverticulitis, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), headaches, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, high blood pressure, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evidence.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a chronic intestinal disability, including irritable bowel syndrome, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability, or in the alternative, as secondary to service-connected PTSD.