IBS & irritable bowel Board decisions

The appeal is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further development and then to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, finding no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by service and no competent evidence linking it to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied service connection for heartburn, noncardiac chest pain, and irritable bowel syndrome as these conditions were not shown to be etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event in service.

The Board found that the veteran's GERD and IBS are not related to his active military service, and there is no new and material evidence to reopen a claim for paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board denied service connection for loss of use of a creative organ, IBS and GERD as secondary to PTSD, and TDIU due to the veteran's current disability ratings not meeting the criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for inactive tuberculosis of T6 and T7 with residuals of a thoracotomy and resection of two ribs, as the veteran's reported thoracic spine symptomatology was not attributable to the narrowing of the T5-6 and T6-7 disks or to the drainage of the tuberculosis paraspinous abscess.

The veteran's discharge for the period of service from December 13, 1989 to November 9, 1993 was considered under other than honorable conditions and is a bar to VA benefits. The claims for service connection for costochondritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), arthritis of the right knee, and left knee disability were denied.

The veteran is entitled to an effective date of September 12, 2002 for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome as a residual of an abdomen shell fragment wound.

The veteran's impaired sphincter control was granted a disability rating of 60 percent, and she was awarded special monthly compensation for the need for aid and attendance at a higher level.

The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (Crohn's disease) is currently manifested by periodic exacerbations, alternating diarrhea and constipation, with generally moderately severe impairment and stable weight; there is modest control with diet and medications, including steroids. A rating in excess of 30 percent is not warranted.

The Board remands the case to provide proper VCAA notice in accordance with Kent v. Nicholson, as the previous notice was found to be insufficient.

The Board denied service connection for a stomach disorder (to include IBS) as it was not shown to have been caused or made worse by active military service or the service-connected Bell's palsy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and an increased rating for migraine headaches.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, residuals of fractured ribs, left hip and right fifth finger disabilities, a peptic ulcer, hypertension, an upper respiratory infection, renal failure, hyperlipidemia and gastroenteritis were denied as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied, as the evidence did not support a finding that his hearing loss is related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred from April 18, 2003 to May 7, 2003 was denied because VA facilities were feasibly available and the veteran chose not to use them.

The appellant did not file a timely substantive appeal, and the Board lacks jurisdiction to consider the claims of entitlement to service connection for arthritis/joint pain, PTSD, avascular necrosis of the right hip, heart problems, right hand problems, and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, as there was no evidence linking the veteran's fatal conditions to his service or service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for irritable bowel syndrome is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a new VA examination and obtaining any recent medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.