IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ulcer and irritable bowel syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions provided in the previous remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, including chronic diarrhea and IBS with bowel urgency, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and respiratory condition. Service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's claimed gastrointestinal disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or respiratory condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, migraines, IBS, ED, and sinusitis, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his combined ratings are sufficient to account for his disability symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic diarrhea as an undiagnosed illness associated with the Veteran's Persian Gulf War service, finding that there is at least equipoise of evidence to support this determination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for spastic stomach (IBS) was denied, as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7323-7319.,A separate 10 percent rating for fecal incontinence from March 22, 2012 to August 23, 2019 was granted. However, a higher rating for fecal incontinence after that date is denied.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death, as it does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeals.

The Veteran's GERD and IBS with GERD are granted initial ratings of 10 percent prior to May 9, 2012, and 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, IBS, and other conditions, are rated at a combined score of 90 percent. The VA has determined that these disabilities render the Veteran unable to maintain regular substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that the VA did not properly notify the Veteran of his scheduled VA examination for an irritable bowel condition, and thus remanded the case to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the effective dates are set to November 19, 2018.

The Veteran's daughter, C. B., has significant disabilities including scoliosis, anxiety, MDD, IBS, and GERD but was not shown to have been permanently incapable of self-support by reason of these conditions prior to her 18th birthday.

The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, PTSD, and tinnitus have been dismissed as they were granted in the July 2020 rating decision.,The Veteran’s right little finger disability claim has been remanded due to lack of a compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of IBS and GERD for further examination and development due to a lack of medical evidence addressing their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a higher rating for irritable bowel syndrome due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for increased irritable bowel syndrome remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee bipartite patella with knee and meniscal tear is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left knee instability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran has been assigned a maximum 30 percent rating for IBS effective October 21, 2020. The claim of an earlier effective date remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current IBS and his service, including exposure to environmental contaminants.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, respiratory disability (chronic bronchitis), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), infection of the tonsils, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fatigue, hypertension, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, shin splints, hemorrhoids, retracted testicle, and low sex drive have been granted. Effective dates prior to February 13, 2018 for bilateral foot bunions and tinnitus are denied.