IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of joint disease, parasympathetic autonomic dysfunction, fibromyalgia, IBS, heart condition, or respiratory condition. The evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board determined that the severance of service connection for right hip pain, left hip pain, and IBS was improper. The claims to restore service connection are granted from the effective date of severance.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical inquiry due to conflicting medical evidence and the Veteran's service in the Gulf War region. The Veteran is seeking service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, hyposmia as a residual of oral surgery, and headache condition. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eczema of the bilateral lower extremities, and residuals of oral surgery. The Veteran's current diagnoses are found to be related to his service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for updated examinations.

Service connection for IBS was granted in a February 2017 rating decision, and the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the requirements for a pension during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability manifested by muscle aches, memory loss, inability to focus, nightmares and insomnia, IBS or weight loss. The Veteran has been granted service connection for fibromyalgia with symptoms of muscle aches.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of IBS was denied. The appeal for a higher disability rating for IBS was also denied.

The Veteran's IBS has been rated at 30 percent since November 26, 2013. The Board finds a 30 percent rating is warranted for the entire appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic diarrhea with IBS is presumed due to service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's IBS with GERD is not entitled to a higher rating.,Service connection for sleep apnea has been granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. Service connection for hypertension remains pending and will be addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected regional enteritis, postoperative, is rated at 30 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims file was lost and is currently being reconstructed. The case is REMANDED to comply with the January 2010 Board Remand directives.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have irritable bowel syndrome and denied his claim for service connection.

The RO reduced the Veteran's right knee chondritis of the patella rating from 20 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2008. The reduction was proper as there was no material improvement in the condition that had been maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board found that the cause of death, combined methadone and oxycodone poisoning, was not service-connected as neither methadone nor oxycodone were prescribed by VA for the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The significant contributing condition, COPD, was also not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied as his current disabilities are not a result of VA medical care in September 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a hearing loss disability within the meaning of VA regulations.,For cluster headaches, the Veteran is currently rated noncompensably (0%) because his headaches are short duration and do not result in lost work time.

The Veteran's digestive system disability, including his liver tumor with IBS, is rated at 30 percent effective January 15, 2015. His hyperlipidemia and hypertension are not service-connected.