IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and depression due to missing medical treatment records from service. The Veteran is also referred for a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a rib injury, including arthritis secondary to broken ribs and sternum; residuals of a left knee injury with chondromalacia; and a neck disability, including residuals of a neck injury with disc and nerve damage. As such, these claims remain denied.

Service connection is granted for irritable bowel syndrome. The issues of service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleeplessness (undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness), depression, and jaw disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's low back DJD and DDD are rated at 20 percent effective February 24, 2016. The issue of service connection for IBS due to Gulf War illness is remanded.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development and clarification, including service connection claims for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss disability, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and hypertensive renal disease. The Veteran's claims are pending due to incomplete VA records and lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Board is unable to confirm the Veteran's service in Kuwait, and his claim for service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities including ulcerative colitis and IBS will be remanded for further verification of his Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded the case due to several issues, including obtaining an opinion on the impact of PTSD medication on employment and verifying the Veteran's income since October 2011.

The claims of service connection for IBS and stomach ulcer are dismissed. The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted, but the rating assigned remains to be determined. The claims of service connection for left hip disorder, left knee disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder, sleep disorder, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 12, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as it is directly related to military service.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability, and his service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to cause death. The appeal for higher rate of payment of NSC death pension benefits is remanded.

The Veteran's stomach disability, including IBS, is granted service connection and he is assigned a 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, sinusitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, chest pain, a dental disorder for treatment purposes, and ear disability. The issues are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional VA examinations.

The appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disorder is dismissed.,Service connection granted for GERD and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various eye, sinus, carpal tunnel syndrome, lower extremity, gastrointestinal, and IBS disorders due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete VA examination opinion and the need for additional medical records. The Veteran's digestive disability, including GERD and IBS, is being reviewed again as new evidence may have been received.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms, including diverticular disease and irritable bowel syndrome, are considered service-connected due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability. The right knee instability is granted a temporary total rating based on surgery performed in January 2014.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms, including irritable bowel syndrome with gastritis, are caused by the medications she takes for her service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board has granted service connection for these symptoms as secondary to her service-connected condition.