IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is granted at a 70 percent rating from July 31, 2014. The claim for service connection for urinary incontinence and IBS are remanded.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and issues with the evaluation of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, ulcerative colitis with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and depression and anxiety have all been granted service connection.,Service connection for these conditions is based on direct evidence of their onset during or related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to October 28, 2020 and 20 percent disabling from that date. The Veteran's IBS with gastritis and GERD with hiatal hernia is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to March 25, 2021 and 30 percent disabling from that date.,The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings based on the current severity of her conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for resection of ribs five, six, and seven. The issue of service connection for resection of the right scapula as secondary to her rib disability is remanded. The issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the talo-fibular and talo-navicular joint with chronic left ankle strain, including entitlement to a temporary total rating for convalescence following surgery, is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in February 2023.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence added by VA, and the Veteran's request for AOJ review of this additional evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to new evidence being added since the last decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a gastrointestinal disorder other than irritable bowel syndrome due to deficiencies in the July 2022 medical opinions. The case is now before the Board for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a headache disability due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is also granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is also granted.,Service connection for gastrointestinal disability (irritable bowel syndrome) due to exposure to environmental hazards during service is remanded for further development.,Individual unemployability is remanded.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period from April 2012 to April 17, 2014 due to his service-connected pan colitis and irritable bowel syndrome preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches, secondary to service-connected disabilities, needs further development due to insufficient medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for IBS and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and insomnia, are granted. The claim for a GI disability due to undiagnosed illness is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for beneficiary travel benefits associated with non-VA medical appointments on October 12, 2017, and October 16, 2017, were received within the required 30-day period following completion of the travel. The Board found that the claims met all eligibility requirements and granted them.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from December 9, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities. The effective date for this TDIU determination is set at July 17, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various gastrointestinal and gallbladder conditions, including IBS, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, GERD, gastrointestinal tumor, colon polyps, and a polyp in the gallbladder. The claims are being remanded to allow for VA examinations and further development of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for broken ribs residuals was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a current disability related to the ribs.,Service connection was granted for scars of the trachea and chest, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to December 2, 2016. The Board found that her symptoms associated with her service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure and follow substantial employment.

Service connection is granted for urinary incontinence as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.,Service connection is granted for chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to service-connected COPD with obstructive sleep apnea.,The Veteran's pleuritic chest pain claim remains pending and requires further examination and opinion.,The heart condition claim, including coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease, is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the issues. A new opinion is needed regarding whether the heart condition is directly related to service.,Gastrointestinal disorder (including gastric ulcers and gastroenteritis but excluding IBS and GERD) claim remains pending and requires further examination and opinion.