IBS & irritable bowel Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected left arm condition is not productive of limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level or at the shoulder level, even taking into account repetitive motion testing and his complaints of pain.,The Veteran's service-connected left knee condition is not productive of flexion limited to 45 degrees or less nor extension limited to 10 degrees or more, even taking into account repetitive motion testing and his complaints of pain. The Veteran's left knee instability is only slight.,The Veteran's service-connected right knee condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as it is productive of no more than slight instability.,The Veteran's service-connected CAD is not productive of a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation on electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or X-ray.,The Veteran's service-connected left carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuropathy is productive of no more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the ulnar nerve.,The Veteran's service-connected right carpal tunnel syndrome does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as it is only mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve.,The Veteran's service-connected arthritis of the right hand does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as there are no more than noncompensable limitations in range of motion of the right wrist and each finger on the right hand, with no evidence of incapacitating exacerbations.,The Veteran's service-connected GERD is not productive of diastolic pressure predominantly less than 100 or systolic pressure predominantly less than 160.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, gastrointestinal disability, irritable bowel syndrome, and hypertension have been denied. The case is remanded to obtain further medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of chronic IBS, chronic head injury residuals, and a chronic headache disorder to include migraines were denied. The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted an increased rating to 20%, while his lumbar spine disability was granted a 60% rating from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005, and a 20% rating thereafter. Separate ratings of 10% were assigned for right sciatica and left sciatica. The Veteran's trapezius muscle strain was granted a 10% evaluation. Finally, the Veteran's panic disorder with depression was granted an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities, but the RO denied her claim. The case is now remanded for further evaluation and consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is related to his in-service fear of enemy fire. The initial noncompensable rating for erectile dysfunction and the 10 percent rating for IBS are maintained, but a higher rating is granted for IBS.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, IBS, and dyspepsia were denied service connection. The initial compensable evaluation for IBS and dyspepsia was granted from October 14, 2004 to April 19, 2006, but a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety disorder, hypertension, familial tremor, and IBS. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined claims for service connection for GERD and IBS, which are related to the Veteran's service in the Persian Gulf War. The claim for service connection for GERD is being considered along with the newly raised claim for service connection for IBS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, joint pain, and sleep disorder were denied as the evidence does not support a finding of these conditions being due to active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal of the claims for service connection for a left eye stye and right ankle strain has been withdrawn. The remaining service connection claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, a bilateral knee disorder, a female internal organ disorder, and incontinence prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left shoulder arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, residuals of broken ribs, and chest disability with sensitive bulge, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims for irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded as they may be related to undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, claimed as irritable bowel syndrome. The issue of service connection for congestive heart failure due to herbicide exposure remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder with schizophrenia is dismissed as moot because his psychiatric disability, classified as anxiety disorder, already accounts for the manifestations of his claimed bipolar disorder with schizophrenia.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of these disorders were incurred or aggravated by active duty or active duty for training.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her service-connected fibromyalgia with irritable bowel syndrome was granted, and she is now assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The claims of entitlement to service connection for neck and low back conditions were also granted as secondary to the service-connected fibromyalgia with irritable bowel syndrome.