IBS & irritable bowel decisions — 2026

The Veteran's recurrent gastrointestinal disabilities, including gastroenteritis with pyloric spasm and IBS, are being remanded for a VA examination to determine their relationship to active service and the conceded toxic exposure related activities (TERAs).

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for irritable bowel syndrome, service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for a disability manifested by fatigue, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI, and hypogonadism (claimed as low testosterone) are denied. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is also remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and service connection are not final due to missing SSA records. The case is being sent back to the AOJ to obtain these records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) effective November 29, 2023, with the condition being rated as mild incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's service connection claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) was also granted a 10 percent rating effective November 29, 2023. The condition is also rated as mild incomplete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, squamous cell carcinoma, a back disability, and a neck disability due to a failure to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records since August 2023.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and a skin condition are being remanded due to the need for VA medical opinions regarding potential exposure to burn pits during active service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to untimely filing of NODs. The claim for service connection of IBS is remanded.

The Veteran's GERD with IBS is rated at a 30 percent level, which is the maximum allowed. The other issues have been denied.

The Veteran's IBS increased rating claim is granted, and a 30% disability rating is assigned.,The Veteran's GERD initial increased rating claim is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and a left ankle disability have been dismissed due to an improper concurrent election of review options. The Veteran also had his claim for IBS denied.,Service connection for hearing loss was denied as the Veteran does not meet the VA requirements for hearing loss in either ear.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his left shoulder condition due to missing records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran will need to provide releases for private treatment records, and a VA examiner will be needed to address the nexus between his conditions and service.

The appeal regarding the deferred claim of entitlement to service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for acute infectious colitis is denied.

The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 20 percent for fibromyalgia, but no higher. The appeal for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded.,A medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's IBS is a separate and distinct diagnosis from her fibromyalgia and to assess its etiology and pathophysiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea were denied. The claim for fibromyalgia was also denied.,The Board found that new evidence did not support readjudication of the previously denied claims.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of March 21, 2024 for service connection to the Veteran for degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); and radiculopathy, left lower, sciatic.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and memory loss. The GI disability claim was also denied. The Veteran does not have a current mental health or psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Service connection for allergic rhinitis was also denied due to lack of evidence supporting its onset during or shortly after military service.

The Veteran's IBS was found to meet the criteria for a 20% disability rating, granted on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status as he does not have a single disability rated at 100% and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60%, nor is he permanently housebound by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic migraines were denied. The claim for increased rating of left knee tendonitis was dismissed due to the Veteran not filing a VA Form 10182 within one year from the denial.