IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for GERD, hiatal hernia, and IBS to obtain a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for IBS and GERD, a separate rating for IBS, and entitlement to TDIU due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 17, 2013 for the grant of service connection for IBS and anxiety disorder is denied. The case is remanded due to issues with increased rating for IBS and TDIU prior to January 15, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran was entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance prior to his death. The examiner is requested to consider the specific impairing attributes associated with each of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The appeal is dismissed as moot because the Veteran's valid October 2019 opt-in into the AMA for the issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for service-connected irritable bowel syndrome renders the current appeal moot.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal disorders, including GERD and IBS, finding no medical evidence linking the current conditions to in-service symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination addressing the etiology of the Veteran's IBS condition, which is related to his active service and Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher rating.,The Veteran's IBS was rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that this was the maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7319. No higher rating is available based on other diagnostic codes.,PTSD was rated at 50 percent, with no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher rating under any applicable criteria.

The Veteran's stomach condition including irritable bowel syndrome and gastritis is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it began during active duty. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a recurrent gastrointestinal disorder (including irritable bowel syndrome) and a recurrent sleep disorder due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board dismissed the reduction claim of the Veteran's service-connected irritable bowel syndrome as he did not timely file a substantive appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is not considered a current disability, and the evidence does not support service connection for this condition.,The Veteran was found to have primary snoring rather than sleep apnea. The Board did not find objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to unresolved issues regarding service connection and rating of various foot, hip, shoulder, knee, and gastrointestinal conditions.

The Veteran's IBS with GERD and hiatal hernia was granted a disability rating of 60 percent as of March 9, 2012. The effective date for this grant is set at September 21, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to their impact on his upper and lower extremities, as they do not result in loss of use of both upper or lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his service-connected IBS. The Board also found that the Veteran’s sciatic nerve radiculopathy does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and requesting an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and proper notification of the Veteran regarding his right ankle disability and IBS. The issues will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.