Citation Nr: 18147555
Decision Date: 11/05/18	Archive Date: 11/05/18

DOCKET NO. 13-17 916
DATE:	November 5, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from active duty from October 1990 to April 1991, in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and had periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) from May 1982 to July 1982 and from November 1983 to March 1984.
This appeal was remanded by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) in August 2018 pursuant to a Joint Motion for Remand, and it has since been returned to the Board for further adjudication.  
1. Entitlement to service connection for IBS is remanded.
The Board finds that additional evidence in the form of another VA examination opinion is required prior to its readjudication of this appeal.  Specifically, the Board finds that a VA examination opinion on whether it is clear and unmistakable that the Veteran’s IBS preexisted his October 1990 to April 1991 period of active military service and on whether it is clear and unmistakable that the Veteran’s IBS was aggravated beyond its natural progression is needed.  See 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.159(c)(4), 3.304(b), 3.306(b). 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate VA provider to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).  The examiner must review the claims file and opine on the following:
(a.) Whether the Veteran’s IBS clearly and unmistakably (undebatable) preexisted his service from October 1990 to April 1991.  If the examiner finds it did clearly and unmistakably preexist this period of service, the examiner must opine whether it was clearly and unmistakably NOT aggravated by service, or instead due to natural progress.  
(b.) If the examiner finds that it either did not clearly and unmistakably preexist the period of service from October 1990 to April 1991, or was not clearly and unmistakably aggravated by such service, the examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) related to service, including the Veteran’s period of ACDUTRA from from May 1982 to July 1982 and from November 1983 to March 1984.
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All opinions must be supported by a rationale.
 
A. C. MACKENZIE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	C. Banks, Associate Counsel