IBS & irritable bowel Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to address both direct service connection and secondary service connection claims related to the Veteran's GI disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome. The examiner is asked to document all diagnosed conditions and determine their likely etiology.

The Board denied service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and granted service connection for residuals of left hip replacement. Service connection was not established for arthritis of the joints.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew their claim prior to a decision.,Service connection was granted for IBS, low back disorder, and bilateral eye disorder. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD also resulted in TDIU effective September 22, 2017.

The Veteran's IBS, headache disorder, alcohol use disorder secondary to PTSD, and anxiety (acquired psychiatric disorder) other than PTSD are all granted as service-connected due to their connection to his Gulf War service.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and remanded the issues of gastrointestinal disorders, GERD, bilateral eye disorder, thyroid disorder, and skin disorder due to potential exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for IBS, ADHD, and PTSD have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The RO granted service connection for PTSD with a 70% rating effective July 17, 2019, and TDIU effective January 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity, both secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for unspecified trauma-and stressor-related disorder is granted.,Service connection claims for other knee, back, nerve, and skin conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's peptic ulcer disease with irritable bowel syndrome was granted a 40 percent disability rating prior to January 30, 2020. From that date, the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, a higher rating for prostate cancer residuals, and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete information or need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disorder, tinnitus, PTSD, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence in some cases and outdated VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide additional relevant records, and a new examination is needed for his gastrointestinal and PTSD conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for CFS is remanded due to the need for clarification of whether his fatigue constitutes an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorders, including GERD and IBS, are remanded as there has not been substantial compliance with the February 2019 Board remand directives. The VA examiner did not clarify whether his fatigue is a symptom or manifestation of another chronic disability or if it constitutes an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right-hand and left-hand numbness are remanded as the VA examiner did not explain why his hand symptoms were related to exposure during service in Southwest Asia, nor addressed whether they constitute an undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy are remanded due to inconsistencies and inadequacies among the VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal. The appeals for service connection for GERD, IBS, tinea corporis (skin condition), fibromyalgia, a neurological condition (dizziness), tuberculosis, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS and GERD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with a qualifying chronic disability related to his service in the Persian Gulf War. The effective date is not specified as it was granted presumptively.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and headaches as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, including SIBO, IBS, and GERD is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for Reiter's syndrome and TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current digestive disorder other than irritable bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids, to include hematochezia and duodenitis, or gastritis. The preponderance of evidence is against finding these conditions are related to service.

An initial 50 percent rating for service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to July 10, 2012, and from October 25, 2010 to March 1, 2012, and from July 2, 2012 to July 9, 2012, is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate explanation of how the ameliorative effects of Nexium were factored into the evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal condition.