IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's IBS is secondary to his service-connected Depressive Disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's request for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in April 2022, as the initial decision granting service connection and a rating was not appealed or filed within one year of receipt.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a withdrawal request from the appellant.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues related to low back pain, contact dermatitis, migraine headaches, PTSD, sleep apnea, IBS, left ear hearing loss, bilateral knees, and bilateral shoulders as untimely.

Service connection is granted for migraines, allergic rhinitis, IBS, and chronic fatigue syndrome.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD/MDD is found to be the primary cause of her claimed chronic pain syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected digestive disability and for further discussion on the propriety of separate evaluations for each service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that new evidence was submitted and must be reviewed by the AOJ before a final decision can be made on your claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for colitis with removal of gall bladder, including irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (also claimed as acid reflux), is being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for updated examinations and a clarifying etiological opinion regarding ankle symptoms.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to untimely filing of VA Form 10182.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to difficulties in obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, and migraine condition due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The claim will be reviewed with a new addendum medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records and outstanding VA treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and readjudicate the cases.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis of the left foot was denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability and concluded that there is not an approximate balance in the weight of the evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome was granted, with the effective date being March 6, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for skin disability, respiratory disability, diverticulitis, digestive system disability, pancreatic-intestinal system disability, and neurological disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay accounts and a supportive medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, an unspecified anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders (including irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease), obstructive sleep apnea, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, residuals of frostbite, and residuals of heat stroke have been granted. The claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder other than sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating and/or earlier effective date for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and sleep apnea due to procedural errors, including a lack of an adequate examination. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicide agents based on his presence in Thailand during service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the earliest date of record showing an ascertainable increase in severity was July 2, 2019.,The effective dates assigned by the AOJ are not supported by the evidence.