IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been granted. The claim for service connection for headaches is remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus to service. The claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been reopened but remains denied as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to service. The Veteran's IBS was found to be a qualifying chronic disability under Persian Gulf War criteria.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including neuropathy pain in the right side of the body, middle back disability with arthritis, hypertension, IBS with polyps, fibroadenoma of the breast, bilateral flat feet, left knee disability, right knee disability, and residuals of a hysterectomy. The decision states that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection based on her Reserve service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back pain with radiculopathy. The claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was previously granted, and thus is no longer under consideration.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including panic disorder with agoraphobia and recurrent major depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent.,A separate rating of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome instability has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a disability rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD with MDD and alcohol use disorder has been dismissed.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, wrists, back, knees, ankles, headaches, and muscle disorder is reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and restoration of the prior rating have been denied. The Board found that the reduction from 60 percent to 30 percent was proper, but did not find that the current 30 percent rating is appropriate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an IBS disability, to include as secondary to a low back disability due to insufficient information in the current record. The Veteran will need to provide updated VA treatment records and any relevant private treatment records. A VA examiner is needed to assess whether the Veteran suffers from IBS that first manifested during his service or was otherwise directly related to his service, especially his low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for IBS is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not rated compensable due to lack of penis deformity with loss of use.,Left knee disability and diarrhea/Irritable Bowel Syndrome need further examination for etiology.,Gulf War Syndrome claim reopened but no service connection granted as there is no evidence linking the symptoms to service or a known undiagnosed illness.,Right lower extremity sciatic nerve disability needs further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's loss of sphincter control related to his IBS. The Veteran will need a VA examination focused on this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, headache disability, and memory loss are not related to his service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding potential exposure to environmental hazards during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating for DJD, DDD, and mild scoliosis of the thoracic and lumbar spine was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder, cardiovascular disorder (specifically congenital bicuspid aortic valve with insufficiency heart murmur), hypertension, IBS, umbilical hernia, and prostatitis was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, sleep apnea, PTSD, adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, a right lower leg disability, and a lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and left foot plantar fasciitis are granted service connection. The Veteran's sinusitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. Service connection for gastrointestinal disorder (IBS) and muscle and joint pain due to service in Southwest Asia is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for IBS, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral ankles with residuals of avulsion fractures of the ankles, and degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees. The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is also considered to have had its onset in service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy are both currently rated at 10 percent. The Board does not find any basis to grant higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's IBS and GERD have been granted service connection, with no specific rating assigned.

The claims to reopen service connection for various conditions have been granted. The specific disabilities are autoimmune disorder, fibromyalgia, IBS, residuals of cysts removal from the left ankle, numbness and neuropathy in the left thigh, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, pre-cancerous polyps, arthritis, NASH, and a heart condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the dates of his periods of active duty and inactive duty training, as well as the exact date of a motor vehicle accident in 1988. The Veteran is also required to provide legible versions of military pay vouchers and obtain authorization from VA to release private medical records.