IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2022

Service connection for IBS is granted as the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by her military service.,Service connection for PTSD is granted based on a diagnosed condition and credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA gastroenterologist to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder. The claim will be re-adjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome with GERD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, insomnia, IBS, and memory loss due to a lack of evidence regarding the onset or causation of these conditions during his military service. The appellant contends that he developed these conditions as a result of vaccinations received in service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's IBS disability had its onset during active duty or is otherwise related to his service. As a result, service connection for IBS is granted.

The Board denied entitlement to an initial rating higher than 20 percent for service-connected lumbar sprain, and noncompensable ratings for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pleurisy, pericarditis, IBS, dermatitis, joint pain, chronic muscle fatigue, and chronic fatigue. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating increases have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal as to the issues of fracture of the 7th and 8th ribs, and right ulnar fracture.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits is remanded for additional development, including obtaining his complete STRs and military personnel records. The claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, irritable bowel syndrome, and residuals of a right arm injury are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS is granted, and her Crohn's Disease remains at a 30% rating. The TDIU claim is denied, as the Veteran has not shown she is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is caused by the Veteran's service-connected irritable bowel syndrome and hiatal hernia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to consider her periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA as a member of the Air Force Reserves and National Guard. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma, allergies, irregular heartbeat, migraine headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome due to unclear service status.

The Veteran's IBS is a presumptive disorder under the Persian Gulf Veterans' Act, but the Board finds that remand is necessary to determine if her IBS manifested within the applicable timeframe for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of depressive disorder with anxiety and history of PTSD, as well as IBS with hiatal hernia are remanded due to the submission of new evidence after the issuance of the October 2019 Statement of the Case.

The Board has denied service connection for IBS due to lack of a current diagnosis, and the case is remanded for further development regarding special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to January 11, 2020 and at most a 10 percent rating thereafter.,The Veteran's IBS does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating based on severity of symptoms.