IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the SMC claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employment status and additional VA and private treatment records are needed. The appeal is now in remand status.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for left shoulder pain was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.,Service connection has also been established for IBS. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for esophageal stricture disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and SMC have been remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for irritable bowel syndrome, pylephlebitis (claimed as deep vein thrombosis), and sleep disturbances are all granted. The Board found that the Veteran's IBS is presumptively connected to his Gulf War service due to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia during his deployment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevents her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU from November 1, 2014 to March 2, 2016 is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a combined 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's GERD with IBS and diarrhea is rated at 30 percent from March 2, 2020. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7346. The claim for a compensable rating for HTN was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of TBI, memory loss, concentration problems, and behavioral changes; also claimed as skull fracture, has been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a previously denied cervical spine disability was granted. The claims for gastrointestinal and psychiatric disabilities, as well as anemia, are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is remanded due to a duty to assist error. He needs an examination to determine if he requires aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a seizure disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service heat stroke incident.,The Board also denied service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities, including IBS and perforated colon issues. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to any period of service.

The Veteran's IBS is granted as a presumptive condition due to service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Veteran's GERD and tension headaches are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of discharge.,Fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome were also not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 100% rating as of December 18, 2017. Headaches are also granted and linked to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for colorectal and gastrointestinal disabilities due to exposure to ethylene oxide and Persian Gulf War environmental hazards, respectively. The Veteran requested additional information about the VA physician who evaluated him.

The Veteran's IBS has been severe with diarrhea and more or less constant abdominal distress, warranting a 30% initial evaluation. The issue of the reduction of monthly compensation benefits for Fiscal Year 2012 was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's IBS is aggravated by medication used to treat his service-connected groin pain, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's gastritis/duodenitis and IBS have been granted an initial rating of 30 percent throughout the appeal period, effective April 30, 2014. The Veteran has also been granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's IBS rating is remanded due to the need for a new in-person VA examination.