IBS & irritable bowel Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome, finding that these conditions are due to medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses related to the Veteran's Persian Gulf War service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal conditions, including GERD and IBS, were not present during service or for many years thereafter and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. The claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition is denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS and GERD are currently rated at the maximum allowable under the rating schedule, and there is no evidence of additional disability warranting a higher rating. The claim for TDIU has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete information and evidence. The Veteran's stressor allegations need to be verified, and a VA examination is required if stressors are confirmed.

The Veteran's appeal involves three issues: an initial increased rating for PTSD, an initial compensable rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is secondary to his service-connected IBS. The VA examiners provided opinions supporting this finding.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain, attributing it to diagnosed conditions not etiologically related to service. The claim for olfactory impairment was remanded by the Court and is pending.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was granted.

The Veteran's right tarsal tunnel syndrome with peroneal neuropathy and complex regional pain is currently rated at 20 percent, which adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.,For GERD and IBS, a rating of 30 percent has been granted effective October 3, 2011. The Veteran's condition continues to meet the criteria for this higher rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim for service connection for IBS and awarded an effective date of June 28, 1993. The earlier effective date for MDD is also granted.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, as he meets the schedular criteria for a grant of TDIU since May 12, 2011. The Veteran has service-connected PTSD and IBS, which do not preclude employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome has been reopened, and his rating for psychiatric disability has been increased to 70 percent effective as of January 25, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IBS, and DJD of the lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, as well as his service connection claim for IBS, was granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting gunshot wounds to the back, buttock and right ribs did not meet the criteria for service connection as they were not aggravated by his active duty service. The claim for residuals of stab wounds to the left chest is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including obtaining dates of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) with the New Jersey National Guard. The Veteran's representative was also given an opportunity to review the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic gastritis with irritable bowel syndrome was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is awarded SMC-O based on the need for two separate SMC-L awards due to loss of use of both feet and need for regular aid and attendance.