IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2023

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of cervical spine disability was denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted within one year of the April 2017 rating decision.,Service connection for a pulmonary disability, hypertension, joint pain, muscle pain, digestive condition (irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis), cardiac condition, and hepatic condition were all remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for IBS and granted initial compensable ratings of at least 10 percent for sinusitis and hypertension. The claims for higher ratings for back lipoma, right and left periodic limb movement disorder, and hypertension were all denied.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on a presumptive basis due to the appellant's active duty in Kuwait. The issue of service connection for TBI remains pending and requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and additional theories of entitlement. The Veteran's sleep apnea may be secondary to obesity, which is linked to his service-connected psychiatric and/or physical conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed disabilities, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis and unspecified autoimmune disorder, which he contends are related to exposure to ionizing radiation at Camp Lejeune. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting further examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and gastrointestinal disorders other than GERD, including irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis with sigmoid resection. The AOJ is to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hiatal hernia was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service-connected hypertension has not been rated higher than noncompensable since the onset of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to failure to substantially fulfill its September 2022 remand instructions regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected GERD, IBS, and gastritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted. The appeal is also granted for the evaluation of left shoulder tendonitis and left clavicle spur, lumbar spondylosis and osteophytosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), uterine fibroids, migraines, hypertension, residual scar from ventral hernia repair, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disturbances, knee disorder, and fibromyalgia. The appeal is remanded for further evaluations and determinations on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of gastrointestinal and gastroesophageal disorders, including IBS and GERD. The Veteran's presumed toxic exposure under PACT Act is acknowledged, but a TERA examination and medical opinion are needed to assess his gastrointestinal symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 1, 2018. However, it granted TDIU from December 1, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD, combined with other service-connected conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 22, 2019. From that date onward, his PTSD alone meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. The IBS is considered a qualifying chronic disability due to its manifestation during the presumptive period of service in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's COPD, sleep apnea (secondary to service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder), and myalgia syndrome are now granted with specific disability ratings. The earlier effective dates for myalgia syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome have been denied.

The Veteran's GI disorder, including IBS and GERD, was not incurred in service. The medical evidence does not establish a nexus between the current conditions and his service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding these issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues, including those for increased ratings and service connection. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's insomnia is associated with her service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus cannot be separately granted.,The Veteran has symptoms consistent with a gastrointestinal disorder but no current diagnosis of such. A new VA medical opinion is needed to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been withdrawn and is dismissed. The Veteran's claim of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded.