The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a qualifying chronic disability and granted an initial 10% rating for right knee instability, while denying service connection for other conditions including right wrist disorder, left hip disorder, right hand arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, increased ratings for the right knee flexion, and right shoulder recurrent dislocation.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported a grant of presumptive service connection for IBS as a MUCMI due to symptoms consistent with frequent episodes of bowel disturbance since active service in the Gulf War. However, there was no current diagnosis or functional impairment attributable to a right wrist or left hip disorder, and arthritis in both hands and shoulders were not shown to be related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Right wrist disorder, Left hip disorder, Right hand arthritis, Left shoulder arthritis, Right knee flexion limitation (10% denied, 10% granted), Right knee instability (10% granted), Right shoulder recurrent dislocation, Residuals of a second metatarsal fracture (right foot disability)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25045347
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of September 2, 2020, for the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but denied a higher initial rating and TDIU.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as there was no competent or credible evidence of a current diagnosis during the appellate period.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, except for a granted 30 percent rating for headache disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder and cervical pain but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also granted ratings of 10 percent or 20 percent for several conditions from specific dates.
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