IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence does not establish a current disability or an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's IBS is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as there was no evidence of more than moderate symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for vitamin D deficiency, hoarseness, pleuritic chest pain (to include as secondary to a service-connected disability), heart condition (to include congestive heart failure) and to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, digestive disorder (excluding IBS) and to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, neck condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, restless leg syndrome, gout, right kidney cyst, urinary incontinence, migraine headaches, and otitis media are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with a current heart condition. An additional VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any potential heart condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Crohn’s disease, finding that his current disability is related to his active service and/or secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The decision also grants service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, including irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including any memory loss, are found to be at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his in-service traumas. His headache disability is also found to be secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's headaches, IBS, and acne are all found to be due to exposure in the Persian Gulf War. The left foot skin condition is also presumed to have been incurred during service.,Service connection has been granted for headaches, IBS, and acne as due to PGWS. Service connection for a left foot skin condition is also granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for IBS-D is granted, while the claim for GERD remains denied. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an upper respiratory disorder to include sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The effective dates for his service-connected conditions remain March 31, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is granted. For the entire appeal period, his IBS was rated at 10 percent and his low back strain with lumbar degenerative disc disease was rated as 10 percent prior to January 22, 2020, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is granted a separate, compensable rating of 20 percent for dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion. The Veteran's GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, IBS, and esophageal adenocarcinoma residuals are granted a disability rating of 60 percent from September 25, 2012 to present.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no service connection issues remain for consideration.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, including GERD and IBS, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are attributable to a known clinical diagnosis (GERD) rather than an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI. The claim was also denied for a deviated septum.,Service connection was not granted as there is no credible evidence linking the current gastrointestinal disability or deviated septum to service.

The Veteran's IBS is granted service connection due to Gulf War exposure. The other conditions are not yet determined as they may be related to undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and sinusitis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy associated with a back disability, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating. The cervical spine disability appeal is dismissed.

The claim for service connection for hypertension (claimed as high and low blood pressure) is denied.,The claim for service connection for residuals of broken ribs is denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his in-service rib injuries.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 50 percent for panic disorder is granted with an effective date of August 31, 2011. The service connection for IBS as secondary to panic disorder is also granted but with an effective date of August 28, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for a seizure disorder and gastrointestinal disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claim is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine strain and left knee strain, but denied service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and migraines. The case is remanded for further development regarding WPW syndrome and right foot disability.