IBS & irritable bowel Board decisions

The veteran's increased rating claim for GERD was denied, and the secondary service connection claim for a chronic lung disorder was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury and rib injury, finding that it was not well grounded.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for residuals of a right thumb injury and irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The veteran's right thumb disorder was rated at 10% since January 5, 1998, due to pain, osteoarthritis, and functional impairment. IBS is currently rated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and an ear disability manifested by chronic ear infections. The veteran was not granted a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee disorder or IBS.

The Board found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen claims for PTSD and Priapism. The reduction of irritable bowel syndrome rating from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.

The Board finds that the veteran's undiagnosed illness manifested by diarrhea, dizziness and disequilibrium, headaches, and muscle and joint pain had its onset in service during his Gulf War deployment. Service connection is granted for these symptoms.

The VA has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness for low blood pressure with dizziness and blackouts or nausea and irritable bowel-type symptoms. Service connection is denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease effective August 20, 1997. The veteran's appeal was about the appropriate effective date for this rating.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals for a compensable disability rating for tinnitus and an increased disability rating for residuals of a left knee injury with a history of subluxation due to untimely filing of substantive appeals.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, neurogenic bladder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and reactive airway disease (RAD).

The veteran's gastrointestinal disabilities, including hiatal hernia, GERD, duodenal ulcer in remission, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic colitis, have been evaluated at a 40 percent rating since May 16, 1991. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's status post left arthroscopic medial meniscectomy for a medial meniscal tear of the left knee was incurred in active service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for mitral valve prolapse and irritable bowel syndrome are remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and gastrointestinal issues, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of exposure to herbicides or other environmental factors in Vietnam.

The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome, essential hypertension, and left renal calculus are presumed to have been incurred during service. The right visual field defect as a postoperative residual of the right orbital cavernous hemangioma is assigned a 10 percent rating. A separate compensable rating for Horner's syndrome associated with the right orbital cavernous hemangioma is granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C and residuals of injury to the right ribs is granted. The VA examiner found that any existing Hepatitis C is not related to in-service liver abnormalities or injuries, but rather to a post-service work-related incident.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of a diagnosed condition that would warrant an increase in rating or service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, low back pain, and peripheral neuropathy (due to exposure to herbicides) were granted. The claim for a right shoulder disorder was not claimed. No rating assigned as the issue is still pending.

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

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development including medical examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, chronic bronchitis, alopecia areata, and irritable bowel syndrome. The claim for reopening of the irritable bowel syndrome was also denied.