IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2023

The Veteran's IBS is rated at 30 percent effective April 3, 2018. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for supraventricular arrhythmia as secondary to his service-connected IBS.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating under DC 7319.,Prior to March 29, 2018, the Veteran's coronary artery disease was not rated higher than 10 percent due to lack of evidence meeting criteria for a higher rating.,From March 29, 2018, to July 8, 2020, the Veteran's coronary artery disease did not meet criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's bowel disorder, including IBS, UC, and GERD, was found to be moderately severe with frequent exacerbations prior to February 21, 2018. The current rating of 30 percent is the maximum allowable under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's IBS was granted service connection, and he is now eligible for SMC at the housebound rate. The left knee issues remain under appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and irritable bowel syndrome have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric conditions and skin thinning, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 16, 2020. From that date onwards, he met the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Veteran's shortness of breath is granted service connection, while gastrointestinal disability (IBS), fibromyalgia, and hypertension are denied. The decision on these issues is based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiners regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment during the period of September 27, 2016 to September 30, 2020. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was restored, and the reduction of his combined evaluation from 60% to 50% is granted. The issue regarding the propriety of reducing his combined evaluation remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's gastrointestinal issues are being recharacterized as celiac disease, and he is considered to have participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) during service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except prostate/penis injury and psychiatric disorder claims have been dismissed. The remaining claims are being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a left ankle condition and remanded it. The Veteran's left inguinal hernia residual condition is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence of an active left inguinal hernia in recent examinations and denied a higher rating. The scars from previous surgeries are also rated at 10 percent.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for GERD is granted. The claims of entitlement to service connection for GERD and IBS are remanded, and a higher disability rating for bilateral plantar fascitis with pes planus is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal. Specifically, a VA examination should be provided to determine the nature and etiology of any gastrointestinal disability found to be present during the pendency of this appeal. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU rating also requires clarification regarding her current employment status.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as major depression and anxiety) has been granted.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (IBS with constipation) is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been reopened, and the reduction of his peptic ulcer disease rating from 60% to 20% is restored. Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 1, 2016 for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) was denied. The earliest possible date for the Veteran's TDIU award is August 1, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for IBS on both schedular and extraschedular grounds is remanded. The issue of TDIU prior to April 8, 2020, is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the IBS issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claims of service connection for IBS, Crohn's disease, and their relationship to exposure in Southwest Asia. The case will also be reviewed under the provisions of the PACT Act.