IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2021

An effective date prior to October 26, 2015, for the award of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is denied.,New and material evidence has been received in order to reopen a claim for service connection for a headache disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and TDIU on an extraschedular basis for IBS was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an extraschedular TDIU based solely on effects of IBS.

The Veteran's GERD with IBS and spastic colitis is rated at 30 percent, effective October 14, 2020. The higher initial rating for his knee conditions remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of appendix removal, gall bladder removal, vision disorder, body sweats, hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, tinnitus, colon cancer (also claimed as partial colon/intestinal removal), testicular cancer and removal, Barrett's esophagus, right foot peripheral neuropathy, left foot peripheral neuropathy, right hand peripheral neuropathy, left hand peripheral neuropathy, chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee disability, left knee disability, hepatitis C, malaise, neck surgery broken vertebra, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, subcutaneous cell carcinoma, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, and tinnitus are REMANDED.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a need for an addendum to the VA medical opinion. The Veteran's IBS is still under consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his ratings for various disabilities, including renal cell carcinoma and hearing loss.

Service connection for IBS is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for residuals of TBI is granted based on credible evidence of in-service injury and consistent with service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings of his psychiatric and right knee disabilities, as well as claims for service connection for left knee and right toe disabilities, have been dismissed. The Veteran's GERD has been granted a 60% disability rating.

The Veteran's GERD and IBS have been granted an initial 30 percent rating, effective May 11, 2009. He was also granted entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 15, 2010.

The Board has determined that effective dates earlier than the assigned ones cannot be granted for various claims due to lack of evidence showing an increase in disability within one year prior to the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to a service-connected groin condition and associated medication.

The Veteran's GERD with IBS has been granted a 60 percent rating, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 7346.

The Veteran's GERD and IBS are rated at 30 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted due to the prohibition of separate ratings for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for IBS and Joint Pain due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to his military service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's IBS with GERD is rated at a 60 percent disability rating, the highest possible under DC 7346. The decision grants this rating based on severe impairment of health due to symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, substernal pain, and incontinence.

The Veteran's GERD with gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome have not manifested in symptoms productive of severe impairment of health, such as material weight loss and hematemesis or melena with moderate anemia, nor in severe hemorrhages or large ulcerated or eroded areas at any point during the appeal period. As a result, a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection. The claims for diverticulitis, IBS, obstructive sleep apnea, and headache disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, myomectomy cystic fibroids (MCF), plantar fasciitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not aggravated by her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and left ankle sprain due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran was not present at scheduled VA examinations, leading to a lack of adequate evidence in the record.