IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, left ankle DJD, right ankle DJD, left knee DJD, right knee DJD, left shoulder DJD, and right shoulder DJD. The new evidence provided reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,The Board has also reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for muscle spasm disorder, IBS, and osteoporosis. However, no rating assigned or effective date was determined as these claims are still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with arthropathy, stenosis, DDD, IVDS, and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), both of which the Veteran contends began in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to determine the current severity of her service-connected hiatal hernia, cholecystectomy residuals, steatohepatitis, and IBS. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD with other conditions is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for IBS, fibromyalgia, a low back disability, and an upper gastrointestinal disorder due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service sexual assault and gastroenteritis.

A disability rating of 100 percent since July 10, 2008, for a sphincter impairment disability is granted.,A disability rating of 30 percent since July 10, 2008, for IBS with GERD (digestive) disability is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his short-term memory loss is service connected to PTSD. The Veteran's irritable bowel/colon syndrome has not been linked to his military service.,The Board found no evidence of a compensable rating for the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss due to current audiometric findings.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims for service connection, as well as his increased evaluation claim for IBS-GERD. The issues include bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, neck disorder, spine disorder, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for PTSD, allergic rhinitis, and herpes zoster was withdrawn. Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.,The Veteran's claims for GERD and IBS are remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether these conditions are related to Gulf War service. A VA examination is needed to determine if they qualify as presumptive disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded because the issues of his PTSD, back condition, and right leg condition need to be addressed first.

The Veteran's IBS has been restored to a 10 percent disability rating throughout the period of her claim, with moderate symptoms and frequent episodes of bowel disturbance.

The Veteran's hospital treatment for PTSD from August 23, 2006 to October 3, 2006 was not due to a service-connected disability. Therefore, the temporary total rating based on hospital treatment in excess of 21 days is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule the Veteran for VA examinations, and address his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of IBS, CFS, sleep disturbance (which is related to PTSD), or vertigo. The claims for these conditions are denied. However, due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's vertigo, the case is being remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's disability ratings for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with associated Erectile Dysfunction and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Residuals were restored to their previous levels of 70 percent and 40 percent, respectively.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle sprain due to inadequate development, including failure to comply with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's IBS was rated as 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7319 from December 1, 2008 to January 26, 2016. Since January 27, 2016, the Veteran's IBS has been rated as 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 7319.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for gynecological condition, chest pain, right leg pain, left leg disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, hypermobility syndrome, arthritis, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, personality disorder, thoracic and lumbar spine, right shin splints, left shin splints, cervical spine disability, CFS, right lower extremity radiculitis, left lower extremity radiculitis, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, dyspepsia, dizziness, left hamstring spasms, and right hamstring spasms. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (somatic symptom and depressive disorders), and IBS.

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for resection of the large intestine (colon removal) has been granted at a 40% level.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was denied.