IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and awarded a maximum 30 percent rating for IBS, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of severe alternating diarrhea and constipation with constant abdominal distress meet the criteria for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and cervical neck lordosis condition, vertigo, irritable bowel syndrome, and migraine headaches as secondary to her service-connected disability of nonspecific musculoligamentous strain, lumbar spine. The remanded issues include determining whether these conditions are aggravated by her service-connected disabilities or if they have a direct relationship with her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including medical treatise evidence that addressed possible relationships between sleep, gastrointestinal problems, and headaches and PTSD. The claims are now recharacterized as secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for additional development and evidence collection, including seeking outstanding VA medical records and obtaining the Veteran's consent to obtain private medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, GERD, and neurological problems due to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia. The Veteran will need VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a functional gastrointestinal disorder, including IBS, and remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for pain in ankles, knees, arms and legs, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome has been granted. The claims of service connection for a chronic liver disease have been denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS should be remanded due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for Crohn’s disease was denied. The Veteran's IBS has been granted service connection, but the Board has remanded to determine if his neuroendocrine tumor is related to his service-connected Crohn’s disease.,The Veteran's Crohn’s disease continues to be rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a bladder disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity.,There is no evidence to support that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma, service connection for hearing loss, service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for IBS are still pending. The RO is instructed to consider all evidence since the July 2017 SOC in its consideration of these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of broken right arm, broken ribs, a right foot injury (including broken toes), a back disability, and a right leg disability (to include as secondary to a back disability). The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and effective dates for various disabilities, including conjunctivitis, respiratory condition, hypertension, B-12 deficiency, TBI, left upper extremity paralysis, tinnitus, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to musculoskeletal disabilities, including left shoulder disability, cervical spine sprain, thoracolumbar spine strain, and abdominal muscle strain are all denied. The Board finds that VA examinations are required for the remaining claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded due to the need for updated examination and opinion without considering the effects of medication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for her service-connected surgical scar of the axillary area of the right breast and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected status-post gallbladder surgery with gastritis and IBS due to lack of recent VA examinations. The Veteran's representative requested a new examination for both issues, and the RO should obtain updated VA treatment records and private treatment records as well as request any outstanding relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for IBS/diverticulitis is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support an in-service incurrence.,Service connection is granted for right upper extremity neurological condition (radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome) related to her military duties as a nurse. The Veteran's current left upper extremity neurological condition remains unclear due to insufficient information from the VA examination report.,The Veteran's service connection claim for left upper extremity neurological condition is remanded, with an addendum opinion required to determine if she has such a condition and whether it is related to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as his claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for chronic fatigue syndrome. The appeals were remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for tinnitus. The Board has determined that the maximum disability rating possible under applicable criteria is 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus. For other claims, a new examination and additional evidence are needed.