IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2020

The Veteran's IBS is severe and manifested by diarrhea, or alternating diarrhea and constipation, with more or less constant abdominal distress. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's IBS effective March 28, 2015.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's IBS may be related to her PTSD, and a new VA examination is needed to determine this relationship.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, cervical spine condition, GERD, and IBS is granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability related to his in-service symptoms and provided sufficient evidence to support this finding.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and gastrointestinal signs or symptoms (claimed as IBS), finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during service, and that any current conditions were not related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and disability ratings in multiple conditions are being remanded due to pending development of the record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of nonspecific urethritis (prior to July 30, 2019), and residuals of nonspecific urethritis (since July 30, 2019) were denied. The claim for service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder was also denied.,The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the right eye condition and service connection for CFS, muscle aches and weakness (including fibromyalgia and Vitamin D deficiency), PTSD, IBS, weight loss, and migraines. The Veteran's GBS with Bell’s palsy is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine condition is remanded due to the need for a retrospective opinion regarding its severity prior to June 7, 2019.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial disability rating for his service-connected IBS with GERD is also remanded as there are inadequate VA examination reports and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's asthma, rhinitis, and sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The initial compensable disability ratings for IBS and left knee patella chondritis were denied. The appeal on lumbar degenerative disc disease, dermatitis, PTSD, chronic sinusitis, GERD, gall bladder disease, post cholecystectomy, headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU beginning March 22, 2010. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis before March 22, 2010 remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome and service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The petition to reopen claims for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and a sleep disability (claimed as obstructive sleep apnea) is granted. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical records related to her service-connected PTSD and any residual effects from a 2013 motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including diverticulosis and IBS. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or pre-existed service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of proper legal standard in determining whether IBS is secondary to GERD. The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS, as secondary to his service-connected GERD, will be reconsidered using the correct legal standard.

The Veteran's claims for right and left knee disabilities, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea have been reopened. The Board has determined that further medical examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 15, 2016, for the grants of service connection for PTSD, IBS, bilateral shoulder disability, neck disability, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left thigh pain was denied, and the appeal is now considered 'mixed' as some issues were granted (IBS) and others not (left thigh pain).,Service connection has been granted for IBS. The Veteran's asthma claim remains pending due to a need for further examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for an increased rating for pelvic inflammatory disease and for earlier effective date for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome due to the death of the appellant.