IBS & irritable bowel Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding of entitlement to this higher rating based on the severity of his IBS symptoms.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for tinnitus and irritable bowel syndrome (to include as secondary to PTSD), but not for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, skin cancer, or degenerative joint disease of the left knee or right knee. The Veteran's hypertension was also found not to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the case should be remanded due to incomplete information regarding the Appellant's hospitalizations and her ability to leave her home. The AOJ must request this additional evidence and re-adjudicate the claim.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of having Irritable Bowel Syndrome and denied service connection for this condition. The issue regarding a scar above his left eye was also addressed, but as the examination did not provide sufficient information on the etiology of the scar, it remains pending.

The Veteran's IBS with ulcerative colitis has not been manifested by numerous attacks a year and malnutrition, with health only fair during remissions. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent are not met.

The Veteran's death was caused by diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, which the Board finds is service-connected due to exposure to silica fibers in service. The claims for accrued benefits based on pending claims for service connection for various conditions are also granted.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia have been granted service connection as they are considered qualifying chronic disabilities under the provisions of the Persian Gulf Veterans' Act.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in February 2008. The current appeal is about a hiatal hernia, back disability (lumbar spine arthritis), and bowel disability (irritable bowel syndrome and rectal bleeding). These claims are currently being evaluated.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim for a skin disorder. The Veteran's right wrist, hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD and/or hiatal hernia), and psychological disorder other than PTSD have been found to be related to service.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected depression, effective from when the claim was filed.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been withdrawn. The Board finds that a higher rating for PTSD is not warranted prior to August 5, 2015, but the current 70 percent rating from that date is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of whether his employment qualifies as a protected work environment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new evaluations or service connections.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned.

The Board has reopened the issue of entitlement to service connection for IBS and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a right ankle disability, residuals of low back injury, right lower extremity sciatica, sinusitis, rhinitis, IBS, and GERD. The decision also addressed reopening of his claim for service connection for asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as there is no evidence of its onset within one year after service discharge and the medical opinions do not support a finding that it was caused or aggravated by service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome warrants a 30 percent rating due to frequent diarrhea.,The Veteran's eye condition does not warrant a compensable rating as his visual acuity is at worst 20/40 in both eyes, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6001.,The Veteran's undiagnosed disorder warrants a higher than 40 percent rating based on the severity of symptoms.