IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for IBS, GERD, and diverticulosis. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the claims on appeal may be decided. The Veteran's sleep apnea and IBS are remanded for new VA examinations to determine their nature and etiology, as well as whether they are related to service-connected disabilities. Migraine headaches are also remanded due to its potential secondary relationship with sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a left ankle disability was dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues of service connection, including for lower back, right shoulder, right hip, right ankle, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as the current examination report does not address whether he requires aid and attendance or is housebound.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, tinnitus, and a respiratory disorder (claimed as asbestosis) is partially granted. The claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic headaches, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disorders are all remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including epicondylitis of the left elbow, right shoulder tendonitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a left Achilles tendon rupture, mild fibrosis of the lung, residuals of cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), Crohn's disease (irritable bowel syndrome), residuals of an emergency internal hemorrhoidectomy, colon cancer with polyp, and residuals of bile duct surgery. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran claimed his conditions were due to radiation exposure during service, but the VA did not find any credible evidence supporting this claim.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is rated at a 60 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained multisymptom illness is denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted effective February 6, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was denied in December 2002 and reopened in September 2015. The evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to support the claim, so it is not new and material.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer was denied in December 2006 and reopened in September 2015. The evidence relates to an unestablished fact (a link between a current disability and an in-service injury) necessary to support the claim, so it is new and material.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right foot bone chip fracture was denied in March 2003 and reopened in September 2015. The evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to support the claim, so it is not new and material.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied in this decision. The evidence does not show that the current disability is proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability was denied in this decision. The evidence does not show that the current disability is proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease was denied in this decision. The evidence does not show that the current disability is proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes, dizziness, gastrointestinal disability including irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches, erectile dysfunction, and allergic rhinitis. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease/Barrett’s Syndrome, and back condition are granted as service-connected due to in-service combat noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as irritable bowel syndrome. The conditions are considered to have originated during military service.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances related to topical medications and Attends protective underwear were denied. However, the Veteran was granted a clothing allowance for using a back and abdominal brace due to her umbilical hernia disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low blood cell count, respiratory disorder, swelling of the extremities, back disorder, tuberculosis, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, bladder disorder, IBS (bowel disorder), dental disorder, and schizophrenia have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and meniscus tear, but denied service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, GERD, and IBS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, IBS, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and PTSD) have all been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from December 6, 2013.

The claim of service connection for IBS is reopened and the claims for thoracolumbar spine disorder are remanded. The issue of aggravation of service-connected GERD and gastritis by IBS is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA medical opinion, and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's hemorrhoids are at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected IBS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been withdrawn and dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea.