IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2024

The Veteran's effective date for a 50% rating for migraine headaches is granted as of December 10, 2019. The effective date for the 30% rating for IBS remains January 19, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, left hip strain, right hip strain, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (back condition) on a presumptive basis due to service in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination findings and needs a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected IBS.

Adenocarcinoma of the lung granted on a presumptive basis due to service in Iraq, effective August 10, 2022.,IBS denied as there is no evidence of persistent symptoms. Right arm condition rated at 20% prior to April 30, 2021 and denied after that date.,Squamous cell cancer right glossotonsillar sulcus remains in remission.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of SMC aid and attendance based on need for regular aid and attendance from October 19, 2021. The Veteran's VA treatment records showed he was not permanently bedridden or so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance prior to October 19, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeals for various disability ratings and service connection claims due to his withdrawal of the appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the entire appeal period since January 3, 2020.

Service connection is granted for sciatica of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection is denied for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and cervical spine disability are inextricably intertwined with the sciatica claims and will be remanded.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a full grant in February 2022. The dental condition, bowel condition (IBS and irritable colon), and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder, combined with other service-connected disabilities, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of May 1, 2018. The Board granted an effective date of May 1, 2018 for the award of TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as early as December 12, 2018. The Board has granted TDIU from March 7, 2019.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the right knee disability and a 20 percent rating for the left knee disability.,The Veteran's IBS is presumed to be causally related to his service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War, resulting in a grant of service connection.,Service connection is granted for cervical spine disability due to its proximate cause being the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.,Service connection is granted for right upper extremity radiculopathy due to its proximate cause being the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability.,Service connection is granted for left upper extremity radiculopathy due to its proximate cause being the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a January 2023 Rating Decision.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for IBS, and thus the case is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 50 percent for headaches and IBS have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,The Veteran has been granted a TDIU based on her service-connected PTSD, headaches, and IBS.

The Board has vacated the February 2024 decisions denying service connection for rectal cancer, left lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and irritable bowel syndrome. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are related to in-service exposures.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome was reduced from a 30 percent rating to a noncompensable rating, but the Board found that this reduction was not supported by evidence of improvement and restored the original 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted, and he is now entitled to a 30 percent rating for gastroesophageal reflux to include IBS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and fatigue have been granted as presumptively related to their service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The claim for right and left ankle pain disorder is denied.