IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective dates for the grants of service connection are not earlier than July 2021.

The Veteran's claim for a 70% rating for PTSD is denied as the effective date cannot be earlier than December 5, 2020.,The criteria for an earlier effective date for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome are not met due to lack of evidence prior to April 2, 2021.,TDIU was granted on October 29, 2007, based on the Veteran's claim for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia is granted. The claims for chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal disorder (irritable bowel syndrome), and gastroesophageal reflux disease are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension (secondary to PTSD), migraine headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome are all denied.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence of these conditions during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's right foot disability is related to active duty service and granted.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of IBS that has existed for at least 6 months and has manifested to a degree of at least 10 percent, qualifying it as presumptively due to Persian Gulf War service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including skin, GERD, left shoulder, rhinitis, sinusitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, IBS, and sleep apnea. The right shoulder, cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and erectile dysfunction claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected GERD with IBS was dismissed because he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's IBS is rated at 60 percent, the highest available under DC 7346, and no higher. The appeal for a higher rating is granted.

Effective dates of October 18, 2021, have been granted for service connection for left knee strain limitation of extension and flexion. An effective date earlier than November 1, 2021, has not been granted for irritable bowel syndrome and right knee strain with limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 7319. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted as there are no additional manifestations of IBS beyond what is already accounted for in the current ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, asthma with sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, and various musculoskeletal conditions, render him unable to perform daily activities without regular aid and attendance. The Board has determined that the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance have been met.

The Veteran's GERD, overactive bladder, and IBS are remanded for further development to determine if they are related to her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 19, 2021 for the increased rating of 10 percent for IBS is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show a factual increase in severity within one year of his February 2021 claim.

Service connection was denied for irritable bowel syndrome, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and hemorrhoids. The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. Pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at 10% based on topical therapy required over the past 12-month period. Hemorrhoids are currently rated as 10% disabling.,Service connection was granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae, but a higher rating is denied due to lack of evidence showing systemic therapy or characteristic lesions covering more than 5-20% of exposed areas or total body area.

The Veteran's IBS is granted service connection based on presumptive service connection due to Southwest Asia service. The remaining conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU due solely to PTSD and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) from December 20, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an addendum or new VA examination addressing whether the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is related to his service-connected PTSD and/or claimed burn pit exposure. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he has a current diagnosis for IBS, assess any functional impairment associated with it, and provide opinions on its relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed intestinal condition, including irritable bowel syndrome. The examiner is requested to provide a new examination and opinions on whether the Veteran's condition had its onset during service or is related to his service-connected hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and IBS are denied. The VA has restored a 30% disability rating for frontal sinusitis, but denies an increased evaluation.