IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The claims for stomach condition, left knee disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is granted as it is secondary to a fall during active duty. The claims for left ear hearing loss, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dysentery, left elbow disability, middle back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are denied.

The Veteran's IBS was granted service connection as a presumptive condition due to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during Desert Storm. The left ankle disability remains under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to new theories of service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD and obesity caused by other service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs a VA medical opinion on these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracic spine disorder, but the claims for rib and right shoulder disorders are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, TMJ as secondary to PTSD, and IBS as secondary to PTSD. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent for IBS is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypersomnolence syndrome, hypertension, PTSD, and IBS, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's digestive system disorder and her service-connected migraines, medications for PTSD with MDD, and other conditions. Additional development is needed to properly adjudicate this claim on a secondary basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to January 11, 2020 and 10 percent thereafter. The Veteran's IBS has not been found to meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent.,Service connection for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected PTSD is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD, hiatal hernia, and IBS. The conditions are deemed to have started during active military service.

The Board dismissed all 34 issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims, except for the service connection for irritable bowel syndrome which was not appealed.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depression. The issues of increased ratings for migraine disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as TDIU, are being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no indications of severe disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including SSA records and private treatment records. The Veteran will be provided with a Statement of the Case regarding his earlier effective date claim for DEA benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are remanded due to a lack of VA examinations and opinions. The Veteran is entitled to VA examinations to determine if she has any diagnosed conditions, and whether those conditions may be related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis and a 30% rating for IBS, effective from the date of the decision. The December 1988 rating decision assigning a 10% evaluation for IBS is being reconsidered.

The Veteran's IBS is rated at 30 percent prior to October 5, 2022. The Board found that the condition more nearly approximated severe IBS based on multiple reports of daily diarrhea and recurring abdominal cramping.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS and CFS, both recognized as qualifying undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses related to Gulf War exposure. The infertility claim is being remanded due to the lack of a nexus.,Service connection for IBS was granted based on its recognition as a qualifying undiagnosed illness under the PACT Act.