IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service connection claims for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eczema and rosacea, and a bilateral eye condition are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and IBS have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection cannot be established because the Veteran does not have a diagnosed disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for PTSD and found that the Veteran's claim was not received within one year of the April 11, 2018, liberalizing VA administrative issue. The Board also denied presumptive service connection for IBS as a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI). Service connection for tinea pedis was granted.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's IBS was granted an increased rating to 30 percent effective March 11, 2019. The Board found that the symptoms more closely approximated a severe disability under prior regulations.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there are no new issues for consideration, and the Veteran's previous appeals have been adjudicated.

The Veteran's IBS and GERD are currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 7319 for IBS and Diagnostic Code 7346 for GERD. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as her symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction, and GERD have been rated at a 30 percent since March 12, 2012. The Board has determined that the symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 30 percent rating under old Diagnostic Codes 7319 and 7346.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, claimed as a choking condition is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service illness.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are remanded due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's alleged stressor.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a permanent and total rating for PTSD with insomnia, TBI, and IBS due to a pre-decisional error in obtaining medical opinions on the permanency of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals of entitlement to increased disability ratings, initial compensable ratings, and initial disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, chronic rhinitis, and headaches. The appeal of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and left thumb scar was also dismissed.

The Veteran's IBS, chronic diarrhea with constipation, and headache disability (including migraine including migraine variants and tension headaches) are all found to be proximately due to their service-connected insomnia disorder. As such, the appeal for these issues is granted.

The Veteran's IBS disability is rated at a noncompensable evaluation, but the Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the entire appeal period based on moderate symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence indicating potential exposure during service. The claims are being reviewed in light of the PACT Act, which requires VA to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between current disabilities and presumed toxic exposures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS is granted as the condition was incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's asthma is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to burn pits and Gulf War exposure. The Veteran's IBS claim for an increased rating remains denied, as the current 30% rating is the maximum allowed under VA regulations. Service connection for asthma other than pursuant to the PACT Act is remanded. TDIU based on IBS is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current irritable bowel syndrome disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including those regarding restoration of a 30 percent rating for left ear surgical scar residuals and service connection for IBS and gastritis.

The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.