IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left wrist, left hand, and disability of the left ribs. The claim for service connection for a back disability is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been reopened and granted. His current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have been incurred during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS has also been reopened and granted. The evidence now supports the possibility of a link between his IBS and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's abdominal conditions and their relationship to service. The VA examiner was requested to provide a more detailed opinion on whether the Veteran's current symptoms are related to her service, as well as whether her major depressive disorder may have caused or aggravated her abdominal conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural error in issuing a decision for the earlier effective date claim. The AOJ needs to issue a higher-level review decision addressing the claim of entitlement to an effective date prior to August 5, 2015 for the grant of service connection for hemorrhoids.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's broken/dislocated collarbone and painful sternoclavicular joint, finding that these conditions were aggravated by his military service. However, it denied service connection for his right shoulder disability and chest pain (claimed as due to a chest injury) during service.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted as service connected due to its onset during his deployment in the Southwest Asia theater of operations and its continued presence since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bunions, psychiatric disorders, and other disabilities, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions or a link to service.

The Veteran's GERD and tinnitus claims were denied, while her claim for residuals of anal fissures as secondary to IBS was granted.

The Board has decided that both issues need further development and remand, including for new examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an IBS disability, finding that his condition is a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness and presumptively service-connected due to his service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to procedural issues and to consider the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's IBS has been rated as 30 percent disabling since April 9, 2015. A separate 10 percent rating for impairment of sphincter control of the rectum and anus is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if any current gastrointestinal disability is related to service. The Veteran's left knee disability and MRSA infection are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted with the exception of his request for a disability rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD. The remaining issues, including service connection claims and TDIU claim, are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened, and she is being asked to provide updated evidence or be examined by VA.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection. The issues of joint pain, IBS and sleep apnea are remanded for further examination and review.

The Board incorrectly granted an effective date of November 1, 1981 for service connection for IBS. The decision is revised to reflect a denial of an effective date prior to May 29, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and granted a remand on the issue of an initial compensable rating for IBS.,New evidence has been submitted, reopening the claim for service connection of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee, left knee, pulmonary embolus and residuals, and irritable bowel syndrome are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.