IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal conditions, breast cancer residuals, esophageal conditions, and gallbladder removal due to potential service connection based on secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 1, 2008, for his TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that prior to this date, his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed as she has withdrawn her appeal.

The application to reopen the claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral foot disability (to include pes planus), bilateral hearing loss, IBS, and lumbar spine disability is granted.,The applications to reopen the claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral foot disability (to include pes planus), bilateral hearing loss, IBS, and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran's atopic dermatitis is rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted under either the old or new applicable regulations.,The Veteran's GERD with IBS is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board concludes that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent disability rating for service-connected residuals of the removal of a benign mass from the right breast, including surgical scar, has been granted. The issue of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder remains pending and is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is granted. The claim of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating from August 5, 2015, and in excess of 10 percent from August 26, 2021, for allergic rhinitis is denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU effective from July 1, 2018, is granted.

The appeal of service connection for pulmonary hypertension is dismissed. Service connection for sarcoidosis is granted under the PACT Act. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The appeals for irritable bowel syndrome, nasal injury residuals, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's IBS and chronic rhinitis/sinusitis have been granted service connection due to exposure to burn pits during qualifying periods of active duty. The thoracic spine disability, hemorrhoids, and direct service connection for these conditions are still pending.,Further development is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and his hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is presumed to have been incurred as a result of service in Southwest Asia.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted based on the presumption that it was caused by noise exposure during service, and the Veteran's testimony regarding hazardous noise exposure in service meets the first two required components of service connection.,The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis as a result of service.

The Veteran's service-connected intestinal disability and scar are being remanded for additional examinations to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding private treatment records and incomplete VA opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 8, 2011, finding that there was no evidence showing he became unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities within one year prior to his claim.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal of his increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in an October 2021 statement, citing satisfaction with a new rating decision and cancellation of a scheduled hearing.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate etiology opinions and potential outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not support reopening the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and denied all other claims as well.

The Board has remanded the case due to delays in receiving VA Forms 21-8940 and 21-4192, which were required for determining entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran was not provided sufficient time to complete these forms before a rating decision was made.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for gastrointestinal disability, to include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and left ankle disability. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequacies in previous VA opinions and a need for additional examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU and did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment.