IBS & irritable bowel Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, a neurologic disorder (to include Parkinson's disease), a headache disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and a heart disorder. The Veteran did not have any of these conditions during service or within one year after separation, and the evidence does not support a finding that they were incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral shin splints or irritable bowel syndrome, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service treatment records are negative for complaints of, or treatment for, spine, left shoulder, or lung disabilities. The earliest post-service clinical evidence of possible acid reflux is more than twenty years after separation from service.,There is no competent credible evidence of record that reflects that the Veteran has a lung disability causally related to, or aggravated by, service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his gastrointestinal disabilities and their relationship to service, including as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected IBS, effective May 12, 2011. The claim was reopened due to new evidence received since the January 2002 denial of service connection.

The Veteran's IBS has resulted in severe symptoms including diarrhea, constipation, abdominal distress, and fecal leakage. The Board granted a 60 percent disability rating effective January 17, 2012.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as the representative has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's traumatic brain injury and obstructive sleep apnea are found to be service-connected. The PTSD is assigned a 50% disability rating, the left knee and right knee conditions are each rated at 10%, the shoulder strains are not service-connected, the wrist condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating, the spine strain is rated at 10%, the ankle strains do not warrant a higher rating, the hiatal hernia with GERD is rated at 10%, and the headaches are assigned a 30% disability rating. The Veteran's hypertension, DVT, restless leg syndrome, IBS, erectile dysfunction, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease are each rated at 10%.

The Veteran's heart disability and IBS have been granted service connection, with a 30% rating for IBS. The Veteran is also individually unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from March 1, 2007. The other claims for increased ratings remain unresolved.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD with IBS warrants a 30 percent rating throughout the appeal period, but no higher.

The Veteran's stomach disability, including GERD and IBS, is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or as a result of his military service. The Board found no evidence to support the presumption of herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for anxiety disorder and Hepatitis B with IBS were denied. The current disability ratings of 30 percent are maintained.

The Veteran's service connection claim for IBS has been granted based on a current diagnosis and presumed exposure to the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Her PTSD disability rating is maintained at 50% since September 23, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, a skin disorder, headaches, neuropsychological symptoms (muscle twitches), cardiovascular disorders, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory disorders (claimed as mesothelioma), and GERD. The decision also addressed an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hiatal hernia and IBS are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on October 18, 2010 at ABMC were denied as the treatment was not for an emergent condition and did not meet the prudent layperson standard.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and GERD were denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic intestinal or esophageal disabilities during service, nor any relationship to service.,VA examinations did not find current diagnoses of IBS or GERD, and the examiner noted that there was no indication of a nexus to service for any other gastrointestinal disability.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids are being remanded for additional development to address the onset of these conditions in service, their relationship to her service-connected urinary frequency disability, and whether they have been caused or aggravated by each other.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on multiple service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims prior to a decision being made by the Board.