IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional evidence, including medical opinions related to potential toxic exposure claims under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted service connection.,The left ankle condition is denied as not related to military service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is caused or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding your claims of service connection for various conditions including an acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, Type II, irritable bowel syndrome, low vision, sinusitis (claimed as unspecified sinus condition), dry and irritable eyes, tinnitus, a left shoulder disability, chronic left hip pain, and a bilateral foot disability. The appeals are dismissed due to the improper concurrent election of review options.

The Board has granted a higher initial 30 percent rating for the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), finding that his symptoms are severe, with frequent episodes of diarrhea and abdominal distress.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, GERD, IBS, rhinitis, sinusitis, dry skin/scars, a bilateral breast condition, pulled groin, vaginitis, irregular menstruation, cervical spine condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, lower extremity nerve damage, ankle strain or Achilles conditions, and foot plantar fasciitis. The effective date for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder is denied prior to December 1, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent has been assigned.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for his service-connected bronchiolitis is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is granted. The claims for gastrointestinal conditions (including IBS and chronic diarrhea) and genitourinary condition are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, both presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for chronic diarrhea (including IBS) and service connection for a left ankle disability, to include as secondary to right ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's attorney requested higher-level review of the March 2021 decision denying service connection for IBS due to presumed toxic exposure risk activities in Saudi Arabia during her military service from December 1990 to May 1991. For the left ankle disability, the Board found that there was some indication of a current disability and noted treatment records indicating instability in both ankles. The Board concluded that remand is required due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including GERD and IBS, is remanded for further examination. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is also remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of alcoholism, secondary to PTSD, is denied.,An earlier effective date of February 7, 2020, but not earlier, has been granted for the grant of an increased rating of 30 percent for IBS with GERD.

Your appeals for increased ratings for IBS with GERD and hiatal hernia, and right knee limitation of extension have been dismissed as moot because they were already adjudicated in legacy appeal streams.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, and IBS were dismissed due to a procedural defect in the AMA review system.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder are rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective as of the date of this decision.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's combined rating for the appeal period prior to April 16, 2023 is granted at a maximum of 100 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), finding that her IBS is at least as likely as not related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, sleep apnea, and irritable bowel syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,An effective date prior to July 11, 2019, for sinusitis and an earlier effective date prior to August 7, 2020, for PTSD have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected psoriasis, migraine headaches, esophagitis with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and anal pruritis have been granted increased ratings effective February 2, 2018.

The appeal regarding service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and headaches are remanded.