IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), IBS, and TDIU are all granted. The rating for IBS is increased to 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal disease, and irritable bowel disease due to exposure to herbicide agents or secondary to follicle center cell lymphoma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS was granted in a December 2014 rating decision, with an effective date of November 24, 2014. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is this date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 29, 2009. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted from September 1, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, wrist disabilities, hand disabilities, hip disabilities, irritable bowel syndrome, and allergic rhinitis have been denied as the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than February 10, 2012, for the grant of service connection for IBS. The effective date is set at February 10, 2012, which is when the Veteran submitted her application to reopen her previously denied claim.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left tibia stress fracture, hypertension, IBS with fecal leakage status post laparoscopic cholecystectomy, sciatic nerve impairment of the right lower extremity, and sciatic nerve impairment of the left lower extremity have been remanded for further review.

Service connection is granted for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to service in the Persian Gulf War. Service connection is also granted for left elbow epicondylitis, presumed due to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin rashes, right ankle osteophyte, chronic fatigue syndrome (as secondary to depressive disorder), PTSD, and functional gastrointestinal disorder including IBS have been granted. The decision also dismisses the claim of service connection for sleep disturbance.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities (plantar fasciitis and foot sprain) and IBS are granted. The GI disability other than IBS, but to include GERD is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's application to reopen his peptic ulcer disease claim was denied. His PTSD claim resulted in a grant of an initial rating of 100 percent, effective from the date of decision. The SMC claim for PTSD-related disability was granted and effective from April 29, 2010, to December 21, 2011.

The Veteran's IBS, fibrocystic breast disease, and insomnia were all found to have onset during service and are therefore granted.,Residuals of the right fourth toe fracture, tendonitis of both wrists, residuals of a fractured third finger, and left ankle strain were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for supraventricular tachycardia prior to October 25, 2017 was denied as the condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The appeal for an increased rating after October 25, 2017 was also denied because there is no evidence of chronic congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction less than 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, and his IBS and headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST). His IBS and headaches are linked to this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of PTSD. The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, finding that it is related to a service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist strain, lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, sinusitis, tension headaches and migraine headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome. The Veteran's current diagnoses are consistent with his reported symptoms in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, residuals of heat stroke, and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS). The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s chronic diarrhea.

The Veteran's left ear deep attic retraction pocket with minimal cholesteatoma is granted an increased rating of 10 percent. The right knee disability, chronic sinusitis, possible complications of the left ear disability, and irritable bowel syndrome are all remanded for further review.

The Veteran's hepatitis with irritable bowel syndrome is now rated at 30 percent, effective January 19, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms of alternating diarrhea and constipation, along with more or less constant abdominal distress, meet the criteria for a severe disability.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly assess the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU due to conflicting medical evidence and allegations of worsening symptoms.