IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and a skin condition due to exposure to herbicide agents. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records from private healthcare facilities and VA medical centers, as well as determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while serving in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, and tension headaches are all granted. The claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection, secondary service connection, and rating issues are not fully developed or complete. The Veteran is being requested to undergo further examinations and provide additional information regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, and knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated treatment records from Darnall AMC and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his right shoulder disability and the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for arthritis of all other joints, allergies to sulfa and medications, respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma and bronchitis), skin disorder, hemorrhoids, heart disorder, prostate disorder, and disability claimed as muscle aches, pains and spasms have been dismissed. The Veteran has service connection granted for depressive disorder and IBS/GERD.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service deployment.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and right hip condition are granted service connection. The Veteran's back condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, undiagnosed musculoskeletal disease (claimed as muscle pain and joint problems), and neurological problems manifested by in part by memory loss, cognitive difficulties, and excess fatigability are denied service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for muscle and joint pain, sleep disturbance, and IBS have been granted. The claim for muscle and joint pain was denied due to lack of objective indications of a chronic disability. The claim for sleep disturbance was denied as the symptoms did not manifest during active service or to a degree of 10 percent or more. The claim for IBS was granted based on it qualifying as a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Veteran's claim for a combined 100% rating prior to August 31, 2010 was denied as the effective date of the award of a combined rating of 100% is correctly set at August 31, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for IBS and Diabetes Mellitus due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a crush injury, claimed as broken ribs, finding that the Veteran's pain constitutes a residual disability secondary to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for IBS/GERD/hiatal hernia prior to September 21, 2015 was denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or treatment for unspecified joint pain, irritable bowel syndrome, tinnitus, PTSD, neck disability, back disability, or hernia. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran’s dental condition to his period of active service.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome, skin condition of the feet, and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected. However, service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted with an effective date of January 22, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper respiratory disorder, IBS, and GERD due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew the appeals for his claims of increased ratings for irritable bowel syndrome, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spondylosis, and right lower extremity sciatic and sural nerve radiculopathy due to a favorable decision.

The Board has remanded the cases of IBS and GERD, PTSD increased rating, and sleep apnea for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of IBS and TDIU were dismissed as the Veteran did not file a timely appeal or submit new and material evidence within one year of the initial rating decisions.

Service connection for abdominal distension and migraines is granted, while other claims are denied or remanded. The right knee condition and earlier effective dates for various conditions are also addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS, migraines, and PTSD with alcohol use disorder in remission are all granted. The Veteran is assigned a 50% disability rating for his migraines.