IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) as a presumptive disability related to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, and also granted secondary service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's IBS is considered a chronic multisymptom illness under VA regulations.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, resulting in a TDIU being granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder, hip/gluteus medius muscle, and gastrointestinal disorders. The appeals are not dismissed as to SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, right hip strain, and IBS with urinary incontinence secondary to bilateral knee disabilities on a causation basis.,However, the issue of entitlement to service connection for right big toe disability remains pending as no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for IBS, upper gastrointestinal disorder (hiatal hernia and GERD), fibromyalgia, and low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to her active military service or due to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that further medical clarification is needed before an informed decision can be made as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and headaches are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore remanded.

The Veteran's traumatic arthrotomy of the right-hand index finger, right foot plantar fasciitis and heel spur, lumbar spine disabilities, and IBS have been reopened due to new evidence received since their previous denials.,Service connection has been granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any pancreatitis with neurological residuals from a Whipple procedure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of intestinal surgery, including abdominal adhesions and gall bladder removal; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); a disability of the anus and rectum; rating in excess of 40 percent for duodenal ulcer disease; and compensable rating for residual scar from post-vagotomy and pyloroplasty must be remanded due to incomplete STRs, need for additional medical opinions, and need for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with its prior remand instructions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating. Therefore, these matters are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, both of which are considered qualifying chronic disabilities due to the Veteran's Gulf War service. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left ankle sprain and service connection for irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the left ankle sprain, as there was no evidence of marked limitation of motion. For IBS, the Board noted that the evidence did not establish a proximate relationship to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's IBS and bilateral CTS have been granted initial ratings of 30 percent, the schedular maximum. The decision is based on severe symptoms with alternating diarrhea and constipation for IBS, and moderate incomplete paralysis for both upper extremity CTS.

The Veteran's tension headaches are currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board finds that a compensable rating of 30 percent is warranted based on her characteristic prostrating attacks occurring more than once a month.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for IBS has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's IBS and GERD have been rated at a maximum of 60 percent throughout the appeal period, with symptoms including frequent episodes of bowel disturbances, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, heartburn, and regurgitation.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for back condition, RLE radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric condition, and IBS due to additional development being needed. The Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of his symptoms are not considered in the current medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to render her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from June 5, 2020. The Board finds that the combined effects of her major depressive disorder with PTSD, chronic cough, and irritable bowel syndrome preclude her from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability, IBS, and right groin strain to obtain a medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by him and a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining SSA records. The VA hearing loss claim is also remanded as there was no VA examination provided.