IBS & irritable bowel — all decisions

The appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was granted, but the appeals for diabetes mellitus II, high blood pressure, and Schatzki's ring esophagus were denied. The veteran's late appeal request was not accepted due to untimeliness.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, IBS, and migraines/headaches to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease as secondary to PTSD. The Board also granted an initial 50 percent rating for migraine headaches effective August 26, 2022.

The Board granted a total disability rating based upon unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), on an extraschedular basis, and special monthly compensation (SMC) from April 2, 2009.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle condition and a left shoulder condition, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for allergic rhinitis, RLS, CFS, IBS, respiratory dyspnea, chronic headaches, and an increased rating for the psychiatric condition were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, unspecified mood disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, as well as alcohol use disorder. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, digestive disabilities including irritable bowel syndrome with abdominal pain and nausea, pelvic organ disabilities, iron deficiency anemia, and genital herpes. Service connection was denied for acne, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, painful joints, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory infection, GERD, PTSD, anxiety condition, manic-depressive reaction, and psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder with symptoms of suicidal ideation. An initial 50% rating was granted for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, left hand neurological condition, and right hand neurological condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of a current disability or sufficient in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) based on severe symptoms including diarrhea and more or less constant abdominal distress.

The Board granted service connection for left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee conditions, as well as a 30 percent initial rating for chronic sinusitis from August 10, 2022, and a maximum 30 percent initial rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from September 29, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and headaches, among others. Sleep apnea was granted.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection and initial rating issues, thus the Board has no jurisdiction to review these appeals.

The Board denied service connection for verruca vulgaris, irritable bowel syndrome, and an initial compensable disability rating for tension headaches as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions or symptoms that met the criteria for service connection.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to obtain an addendum opinion that adequately addresses the Veteran's lay statements and the total combined exposure to toxic exposure risk activities through all applicable deployments.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the notice of disagreement submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims.

The Board granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and other specified anxiety disorder, but denied or remanded the claims for service connection for a recurrent temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disability, prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, left elbow disability, esophageal disability to include GERD, gastrointestinal disability to include IBS, headache disability, right shoulder disability, heart disability, bilateral foot disability, and compensable ratings for hemorrhoids and allergic rhinitis.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while the appeals for other conditions were remanded for further review.