IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's IBS preexisted his service and whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's right heel disability, bilateral hearing loss, ulcer/GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his claims, including service connection for various conditions and their secondary effects.

The Board has granted the reopening of the veteran's claim for service connection for Crohn's disease and IBS, finding new and material evidence. The case is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The claim to reopen a previous denial of service connection for a bilateral eye disorder was granted.,Service connection for left foot pes planus remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a right shoulder injury, fractured left ankle, fractured ribs, and right eye injury are all granted. However, the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his claimed in-service injuries or events.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder (COPD) was denied service connection as it is not shown to have been present in service or for many years thereafter, nor is it related to service.,Service connection granted for irritable bowel syndrome with a diagnosis date of 2010.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for pancolitis (to include irritable bowel syndrome) is denied, and his TDIU claim is also denied.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no service connection decisions are made as a result.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been denied.,Increased ratings and TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran's IBS with diarrhea is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7319.,PTSD with major depression, short-term memory loss, panic attacks and insomnia was previously rated at 70 percent prior to December 7, 2014. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains in appellate status as his PTSD has now been rated at 100 percent effective December 7, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at Bayfront Health Port Charlotte is denied because the treatment was not for a medical emergency and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations and extraschedular considerations for various service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of the record.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and musculoskeletal disabilities have all been denied.,Service connection has not been established for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's cause of death, his psychiatric disability (depression), was caused or aggravated by his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an acquired psychiatric disorder, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for post-concussive headaches is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar back disability, residuals of a broken nose, irritable bowel syndrome, and migraine headaches as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.