IBS & irritable bowel Board decisions

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's irritable bowel syndrome with gastritis, effective from the date of her claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and residuals of a tonsillectomy and removal of polyps from vocal cords do not warrant compensable disability ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for endometriosis, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for post-surgical abdominal adhesions.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome, the maximum allowed under DC 7319.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including asbestosis, hypertension, renal failure, irritable bowel syndrome, coronary artery disease, arthritis of the hands, and headaches. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (dysthymic disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and irritable bowel syndrome) combine to a rating of 70 percent. The Board finds that the veteran is unemployable due to her service-connected conditions, with the psychiatrist opining it is as likely as not she would be unemployable based on her depression alone.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the June 1998 rating decision supports reopening the veteran's claim for service connection for gastroenteritis and/or IBS. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 2, 2002 for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome.

The veteran's service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, and the RO has awarded increased ratings of 10 percent for IBS and residuals of status post right hydrocelectomy. The rating for residuals of a fracture to the right fifth metacarpal remains at noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current IBS is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and muscle and joint pain as due to an undiagnosed illness incurred in Southwest Asia. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities played a material causal role in his death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, due to new evidence submitted by the veteran. The claim for GERD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of GERD in the record. Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was also denied. The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for psychiatric disability including PTSD and bipolar disorder was granted, with a rating of 100 percent effective from the date of her original claim. The issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for right shoulder and chest strain (major extremity) remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in notice provided by the RO/AMC and for obtaining additional medical records. The appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of her husband's death is being addressed, along with her claim for burial benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease status post laminectomy. Service connection for acid reflux disease is denied. The veteran is also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 10 percent prior to October 24, 2007, and the claims for service connection for GERD, IBS, headaches, a sleep disorder, and vision loss were denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, cervical spine disability, and chronic sinusitis as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or sufficient evidence to link them to the veteran's active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability, headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as there is no current diagnosis of IBS and the veteran's symptoms are already contemplated in her 50 percent rating for endometriosis with colonic adhesions.