IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to his non-service connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, deviated nasal septum, sinusitis, and IBS as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and irritable bowel syndrome) prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's IBS was initially rated at 10% from November 5, 2002 to September 24, 2007. Since then, he has been granted a 30% rating effective September 24, 2007.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for IBS and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for intestinal disorder, basal cell carcinoma, right middle finger injury, irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened. Service connection is granted for the right middle finger injury and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess current disability levels and etiology.

The Board dismissed all service connection and increased rating claims as the Veteran withdrew his appeals for these issues during a Travel Board hearing. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for the entire appeal to be dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis under VA regulation.,Claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities were remanded due to insufficient medical evidence or lack of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).,Service connection claims for digestive disorder, joint pain, skin condition, traumatic brain injury, and right great toe bunionectomy residuals were also remanded.,The Veteran withdrew his claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and for a compensable disability rating for scars (claimed as neck fusion surgical scar, bunionectomy scar).

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that his symptoms are related to his military service and resolving all doubts in his favor.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS with GERD has been rated at 10 percent since August 2010. The Board has now granted a 30 percent rating for this condition, finding that the symptoms are of such severity as to be productive of considerable impairment of health.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and the other issues were denied or not addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's perforated colonic diverticulum, including whether it was caused by carelessness or negligence on VA's part.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and IBS as due to an undiagnosed illness, requiring a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to in-service exposures during Gulf War Service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and irritable bowel syndrome, as these conditions are claimed to be secondary to her service-connected cholecystectomy with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and nausea. The VA will need to provide a supplemental addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea and irritable bowel syndrome were caused or aggravated by her service-connected GERD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders during his military service.

The Veteran's chronic rib separation left 5th, 6th ribs disability is rated at 20 percent. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric condition and heart condition as secondary to his service-connected rib condition, as well as the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, initial ratings for his low back and right lower extremity disabilities, and TDIU due to the need for updated examinations and opinions regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for depressive disorder NOS, thoracic dextro scoliosis, lower back disorder, IBS, GERD and DJD of the bilateral knees. The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his active duty service.