IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Veteran's left wrist disorder, hypertension, IBS, ED, and GERD are not service-connected.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran’s current left wrist disorder is not caused by or related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and the identification of outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, has been granted. The claims for fibromyalgia, CFS, IBS, and sleep apnea have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and analysis.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left ankle, and sleep disorders as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions prior to death. The Veteran's IBS is also not considered a separate disability from her psychiatric symptoms.,For TBI, the Board found that residuals were only rated at 0 percent due to overlap with other service-connected disabilities (PTSD and migraines).

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome with acid reflux and undiagnosed illness due to Gulf War exposure are being remanded as the Board notes insufficient contemporaneous information to evaluate these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diverticulitis with IBS, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has ordered remand to address the relationship between his PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 7319.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety), a gastrointestinal disability (including gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)), and insomnia due to outstanding records from service treatment and personnel records.

The Board denied service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Peyronie's disease, and urinary incontinence as they are not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's OSA is granted, and his chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal disorder, and TBI or TBI residuals claims are denied. The Veteran's bipolar disorder claim results in a grant of service connection with an initial disability rating of 50%.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to service connection and disability ratings for various conditions. The Board has found that a 30 percent rating is warranted for IBS throughout the appeal period, but other claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further examination is required.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome (also claimed as irritable colon syndrome), gastritis, and Barrett's esophagus with GERD. The appeals for service connection for high cholesterol, hypertensive vascular disease, hypertension, and bruxism were dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, shortness of breath, heart murmur, irritable bowel movements, and irritable facial skin. The Board found no current disability related to these conditions that began during or was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's IBS has been granted a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is referred to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records related to his disability benefits application.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, and therefore, his claims for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, residuals of a shrapnel wound of the right leg, and neurologic disability of the right lower extremity are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection related to unexplained multi-symptom illnesses due to service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for GERD and IBS have been granted. The Veteran is now receiving a 30 percent evaluation for his service-connected GERD, effective from the date of service connection. His service-connected IBS has also received an initial evaluation of 30 percent.

The Veteran's tinea cruris and herpes zoster were granted service connection. The Board also found that the evidence was at least in equipoise for his other conditions, including right ear hearing loss disability, costochondritis, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, psoriasis, heart disability, hypertension, IBS, cholecystectomy, and thyroid disability.