IBS & irritable bowel Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and spastic colitis, a duodenal ulcer, and gastroesophageal reflux due to his failure to report for a VA examination without good cause.

The Board denied a higher rating for irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the veteran's symptoms are best evaluated as moderate and warranting a 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability is denied as her service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining substantial gainful employment.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent evaluation for the service-connected irritable bowel syndrome, effective from October 26, 1993.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, or impotence related to his active military service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 10% disability rating. The claims for arthritis of the hands and knees, arthritis of the knees, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic low back strain, and residuals of fractures to three bones of the left foot have all been granted with appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted for the veteran's residuals of resection of the 4th and 6th right ribs for grafting for temporomandibular joint surgery.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing impairment, defective vision, skin disorder, verruca vulgaris (warts), bilateral ankle disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic headaches, maxillary sinusitis, thoracic spine disability, pes cavus, and left varicocele are not well grounded. The veteran's claims have been denied as they do not meet the threshold requirement for a well-grounded claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of a left ankle, fibula, and tibia fracture; hypertension; irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease; kidney stones; and multiple angiolipomas.

The veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue/memory loss, stomach problems, and shoulder disorder are granted as these conditions are presumed to be related to his service in the Persian Gulf. The veteran's claims for muscle tension headaches and multiple joint arthralgias are also granted under the same presumption.

The Board has found the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, to include on a secondary basis, is well grounded. The appeal is granted to this extent.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder and irritable bowel syndrome, finding that these conditions originated during service.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, sinusitis/rhinitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and a skin disorder (claimed as tinea cruris and tinea pedis) are granted. The claim for left knee disorder is not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite to his hands, irritable bowel syndrome as secondary to PTSD, and stomach disorder as secondary to PTSD. The veteran's total disability rating claim was also denied due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities not meeting the schedular criteria for individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux, esophagitis, antral gastritis, duodenitis, and irritable bowel syndrome, claimed as a stomach disorder. The claim for residuals of viral gastroenteritis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, ribs, head, and back injuries due to a motor vehicle accident in service. However, the claims are denied as there is no medical evidence linking these current disabilities to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss and IBS were denied as the current evaluations are considered appropriate based on the severity of his conditions.

The veteran's claim for VA outpatient dental treatment was denied as his current dental condition does not meet the criteria for Class III treatment, which requires a professional medical determination that it is aggravating a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, impotence, sleep apnea, hair loss, irritable bowel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and skin rashes due to undiagnosed illnesses are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a mild concussion and bruised ribs are not well grounded, as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active duty.