IBS & irritable bowel Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease, both presumed to be related to the Veteran's service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination and medical opinions regarding service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's gastrointestinal condition, including IBS and GERD, is granted service connection. A 50 percent rating for posttraumatic headaches prior to April 21, 2017, is also granted. The low back strain issue remains denied.

The Veteran's severe loss of vision in the left eye is not considered to be due to VA treatment, and there is no evidence linking his current condition to any fault on the part of VA.,Hypertension was not found to be related to service or herbicide exposure. The claim for secondary hypertension to PTSD is also denied.,IBS was not linked to service or PTSD. The claim for secondary IBS to PTSD is also denied.,Right hand and left hand disabilities were not found to be due to service or herbicide exposure. The claims for these conditions are also denied.,The Veteran's hypertension, IBS, right hand, and left hand disabilities do not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's stomach disorder and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded for further examination and opinion as the current evidence is insufficient to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for rib disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, and IBS due to new evidence received since the last decision. The claims are currently pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, and onychomycosis. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for fibromyalgia due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia or another medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI).

The Board has found that the Veteran's GERD, H. pylori, hiatal hernia, and IBS are not related to his service or secondary to his service-connected OSA. The Board has therefore remanded for additional VA examinations to determine if these conditions were present during service or caused by service-connected OSA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and clarification of evidence.,Specifically, additional medical opinions are required regarding the etiology of various conditions including cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal degenerative disc disease, right shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, fibromyalgia (Gulf War Illness), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (Gulf War Illness), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Gulf War Illness), and migraine headaches.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and a chronic pain disorder, diagnosed as fibromyalgia and spondyloarthropathy with flaring peripheral joint synovitis, all of which are deemed to be directly related to her active military service.

The Veteran's IBS was not shown in service and is not causally or etiologically related to service, nor is it due to herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating. The GERD with IBS has not met the criteria for a higher than 10% rating. The retained shrapnel in the left hand does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The right foot plantar fasciitis with heel spur and fractured fourth toe is rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo medical evaluations for all claimed conditions.

The appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is dismissed. The appeal as to whether new or material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a dental condition, for compensation purposes, is also dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a ruptured colon to include irritable bowel syndrome are granted with a disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for the period prior to November 26, 2012, and from February 1, 2013. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to September 4, 2009, from November 1, 2009 to March 4, 2010, and from May 1, 2010 for residuals of a left scapula fracture (left shoulder disability) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his depressive disorder with anxious distress was granted, and he is now receiving a 70 percent disability rating. Additionally, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's IBS is granted service connection as a presumptive condition due to his Gulf War service. His right and left ankle disabilities are granted an initial rating of 10 percent each.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her requests.