IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right lobectomy for lung cancer, secondary to asbestos exposure, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, secondary to GERD, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergies, due to asbestos exposure, is remand.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn's disease, finding that the Veteran experienced gastrointestinal symptoms during service which are now diagnosed as IBS and Crohn's disease. The residuals of a colonoscopy and hemicolectomy have also been granted.

Service connection is granted for sinusitis and denied for IBS, anemia, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,A rating of 10 percent prior to December 19, 2013 for service-connected lumbosacral strain is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The claim for an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome was denied as the current disability rating is already at its maximum allowed under VA guidelines. For PTSD, the claim was also denied as there was no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome rating is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for flatfoot and the issues of increased ratings for bilateral great toe onychomycosis, PTSD and allergic rhinitis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diarrhea (claimed as irritable bowel syndrome) has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of legal briefs submitted in January 2017 and August 2017. The Veteran’s attorney requested that both briefs be combined into one decision.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left foot, chronic fatigue syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities. The claims for seizure disorder and blackouts/convulsions have been reopened.,Service connection was also granted for chronic sinusitis and lung cancer.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service and was not caused by or aggravated by his PTSD. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s current sleep apnea is unrelated to service.,The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident (CVA) was not caused by or aggravated by VA treatment on January 25, 2010 and April 7, 2010. The VA physician stated there was no evidence of failure to diagnose or treat the condition.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for IBS and ADHD, as well as the issues regarding headaches and PTSD. The Veteran's representative has requested that these cases be reviewed by the RO before being considered again.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional VA treatment records being added to the file and the need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding service treatment records, conduct a VA examination for each condition, and issue a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for IBS, gastric ulcer, hiatal hernia and GERD has been denied.,The Veteran's temporary total rating based on hospitalization for hysterectomy is dismissed as her service-connected condition already warranted a 100% disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for IBS, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, hypertension, and migraine headaches. The issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist is rated at 30 percent. The Veteran's right wrist tenosynovitis and IBS are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in February 2008, and the issue is now reopened due to new evidence. The Veteran does not have a diagnosed hearing disability.,Service connection for IBS has been granted but an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied. The Veteran's symptoms are considered moderate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, CFS, IBS, and arthritis of the back, knees, legs, and right ankle was reopened due to new evidence submitted.,Service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his claims for service connection of residuals of a left eye injury, sleep apnea, and irritable bowel syndrome. The Board dismissed these issues as the Veteran withdrew them.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence and additional medical records need to be obtained. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of November 19, 1994 for the award of service connection for a right armpit scar. Service connection for tinnitus and IBS are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to CUE in a January 2006 rating decision and the reopening of service connection claims for irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.