IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at a 10 percent effective February 7, 2021. The Board found the evidence incomplete as it did not include private treatment records and remanded for their acquisition.,For ED, DMII, IBS, and GERD, VA must obtain medical opinions under PACT Act provisions due to in-service exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Crohn's disease, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and muscle and joint pains are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The RO is instructed to obtain VA Gulf War examination opinions.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a deviated nasal septum has been withdrawn. The Board also denied service connection for left knee disability, IBS, sinusitis, and OSA due to burn pit exposure.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions as there is no current evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 4, 2021 for service connection of IBS is granted. The Veteran's PTSD disability was granted a higher rating in November 2020 and the claim for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with strain received an earlier effective date of November 9, 2020.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for higher ratings for his right hip disability and for service connection for IBS. The appeal of these issues must be denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for GERD with IBS and service connection for urinary frequency with pyuria was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show severe impairment of health due to GERD, nor did it establish a current urinary condition.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids with anal fissures associated with irritable bowel syndrome are granted a 20 percent rating. The right ear hearing loss disability is denied, and the psychiatric disability remains at a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran withdrew all outstanding appeals, including those related to the conditions listed above.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The issue of service connection for IBS is remanded due to a pre-decisional error.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for asthma, IBS, diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and a right knee disorder due to incomplete medical records and failure to provide VA examinations.

The Board has identified errors in the AOJ's decision and has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's participation in a TERA, as well as for obtaining private treatment records. The PACT Act requires VA to obtain medical nexus opinions and examinations for claimed disabilities with possible associations to toxic exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection, and his right ear hearing loss, irritable bowel syndrome, left wrist condition with ganglion cyst, right foot pes planus, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus, RLE disorder, sleep disorder, ED, and IBS due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic sinusitis was dismissed as moot because the claim had already been fully granted with an effective date of October 18, 2021. The claims for GERD and IBS were remanded due to a duty to assist error in scheduling VA examinations. The bilateral hip, ankle, wrist, and shoulder disabilities were also remanded.

The Veteran's GERD with IBS is rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU and DEA benefits was granted effective May 14, 2020.,PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed from the Veteran to support his claims for service connection and effective date determinations. The claims are being remanded to allow VA to obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a maximum of 30 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran's IBS with GERD is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's tension headaches are granted a rating of 50 percent effective June 15, 2020. The Veteran's IBS with GERD is remanded for further evaluation.

Service connection granted for allergic rhinitis and folliculitis, both presumed to be caused by exposure to fine particulate matter during service in Iraq.,Service connection denied for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as there is no current diagnosis or objective evidence of the condition.