IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence of a link between his claimed conditions and service. The Board will seek further clarification or evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for gastrointestinal issues, including IBS and diverticulosis. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's IBS is granted as it is presumed related to his service in the Persian Gulf War.,Service connection for chronic sinusitis due to fine particulate matter exposure during service is granted, effective from August 5, 2021.

The Veteran's IBS was found to have its onset during service and is granted service connection.

The Veteran's left hip strain, right hip strain, and migraine disorder have been granted service connection.,However, the claim for a gastrointestinal disability (IBS) is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in the VA examiners' reviews of the claims file. The Veteran is seeking service connection for chronic sinus and gastrointestinal conditions, including diverticulitis, gastroenteritis, chronic diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's heart condition appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim.,Service connection for IBS and migraines has been granted, with IBS being secondary to service-connected somatic symptom disorder and migraines linked to service-connected tinnitus and GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, IBS, and tinnitus) do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation based on his education and work history.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted. Other conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), type II diabetes, erectile dysfunction, nephrolithiasis and pyelonephritis, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and bilateral restless leg syndrome are also granted. Service connection is established for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for IBS is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the impact of her medication on her disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of its occurrence during or shortly after his military service.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for headaches was dismissed due to the lack of timely filing and concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulosis/IBS (formerly GERD) has been dismissed as it is no longer pending at the Board level after a grant by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for CTS was dismissed due to concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD has been granted by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021. The appeal is dismissed as this represents a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis and CTS were remanded due to concurrent election issues. These issues will be addressed in a future rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was not on appeal as it was predecisional error not to address the current rating issue. The issue is remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches will be considered in a future decision.

The Veteran's non-VA emergency care at Blake Hospital in May 2018 was deemed emergent and necessary due to a hand injury that exposed an infection. The Board found that the nearest available facility (Blake Hospital) provided appropriate treatment, which was not feasibly available from VA facilities. As such, the claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA care is granted.

The Veteran's effective date for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is set to March 11, 2021. He was granted a higher level of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) at level (n).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IBS, and knee conditions, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on his combined rating of 80%.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for depression was withdrawn. The claim for service connection for IBS was denied as the condition is not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding her lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral shoulder conditions.,The Veteran has been granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis. The appeal remains pending for the other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and irritable bowel syndrome have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions during or after his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, recurrent major depressive disorder, chronic sleep impairment, pansinusitis, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for painful linear surgical scars of the anterior trunk, suprapubic and midline abdominal region is dismissed as her initial claim was not appealed within one year.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is denied because she did not continuously pursue the issue or file a supplemental claim prior to April 10, 2024.