IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional evidence being added to his file and for further examination of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The claim for an increased rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy has been partially granted with a 20% rating.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20%, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code (DC) 8513.

The Veteran's IBS is rated at 30 percent, the maximum available under DC 7319. A higher rating cannot be assigned.,The Veteran's CFS is rated at 20 percent, which is the minimum available under DC 6354. A higher rating cannot be assigned.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and her military service, including exposure at Fort McClellan. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether each condition had its onset in service or is related to such exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a separate ratings for sleep disturbance and bowel condition as residuals of service-connected Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome was not shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection is remanded for MUCMI and restless leg syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis of the hips, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic constipation (claimed as IBS), hemorrhoids, and diverticulosis (claimed as IBS) due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran does not have CFS, fibromyalgia, or IBS.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be the cause of his claimed gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting and heartburn (GERD), as well as constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping (IBS). Service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for migraine headaches and IBS/GERD with hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IBS, and other conditions, prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from June 19, 2014, to April 20, 2015.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred on January 7, 2016 at University of Florida Jacksonville Hospital due to persistent severe lower abdominal pain with difficulty that was considered a medical emergency.

The Veteran's IBS and OSA are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The ED claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or loss of use of a hand or foot, permanent vision impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, the Veteran is not eligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's GERD, hiatal hernia, and IBS are rated at a 60 percent disability effective December 22, 2018. The decision grants the Veteran's claim for an increased rating.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder, lumbar spine DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and IBS have been granted increased ratings. Service connection for residuals of frostbite has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a 30 percent rating for GERD, service connection for IBS, and service connection for peptic ulcer disease have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as the claims are no longer pending.