IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted as it is considered a qualifying chronic disability due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness. The Board finds the evidence sufficient to establish that the Veteran has had symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome since his military service, and these symptoms are related to his Gulf War service.

The Board has granted service connection for cold weather injury residuals of the feet, finding that the Veteran's numbness and peripheral neuropathy are likely due to in-service exposure to subfreezing temperatures. The claim for colitis/irritable bowel syndrome was reopened based on new evidence.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals concerning his claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, earlier effective date for irritable bowel syndrome, and initial rating for irritable bowel syndrome. The appeal concerning tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is due to military sexual trauma experienced during her service, and the Board finds that service connection for PTSD has been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, finding that the new evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the merits of the claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and bowel disorder (IBS) are not causally or etiologically related to active service, arthritis cannot be presumed to have been incurred in service, and a bilateral knee disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar DDD. The claim for erectile dysfunction (ED) was not addressed as it pertains to medications prescribed for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the claimed conditions and the evidence does not support a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or exposure to Gulf War conditions, and there is no nexus between his current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's IBS was granted a 30 percent rating effective June 16, 2014.,The Veteran's dermatitis and acne were denied as not compensable.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of irritable bowel syndrome, sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea were not established as service-connected. The Board found no evidence of in-service onset or connection to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of these conditions and that they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder injury, and left arm injury are related to service. The broken ribs claim will be addressed as a direct service connection case.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome, both presumed to be related to his Gulf War service.,Service connection is denied for a disability manifested by chronic fatigue, including CFS, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's IBS with recurrent colon polyps and other gastrointestinal disorders, to include peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and hiatal hernia, has been manifested by near-continuous abdominal pain despite the use of medication, in addition to recurring vomiting, alternating diarrhea and constipation, nausea, loss of energy, occasional melena and weight loss at the beginning of the appeal period.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS was denied, while his claim for bradycardia with pacemaker implantation was granted. The Veteran is now entitled to a rating of 60 percent for CAD from February 24, 2012.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and rules in favor of the Veteran, granting service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder. The cases of irritable bowel syndrome, depressive disorder, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are remanded for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected abdominal scars, including those from cholecystectomy and appendectomy, are manifested by pain and tenderness. The Board has granted a 30% rating for these scars, effective May 30, 2013.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted, as it was incurred in active service.,Service connection is also granted for right C-7 radiculopathy, which is secondary to his now service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease, diverticulosis, and chronic abdominal pain secondary to diverticulitis and diverticulosis.