IBS can be disruptive, unpredictable, and hard to live with.
A physician-written medical opinion explaining how irritable bowel syndrome may be secondary to PTSD, anxiety, depression, or chronic stress.
What Is IBS
A functional GI disorder with strong ties to the mind-gut axis
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition characterized by abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, or alternating patterns. For veterans, IBS is frequently downstream of chronic stress and mental health conditions — through the well-established gut-brain axis.
Can IBS be secondary to PTSD?
Yes. Peer-reviewed literature repeatedly links PTSD, anxiety, and depression to IBS through altered gut motility, visceral hypersensitivity, and dysregulation of the gut-brain axis.
VA rating tiers
IBS is rated 10%, 20%, or 30% under DC 7319 based on symptom frequency and severity — from mild disturbance to severe symptoms with more or less constant abdominal distress.
What A Nexus Letter Should Address
What Dr. Allen puts in an IBS nexus letter
- The current IBS diagnosis and Rome criteria where applied
- Whether the pathway is causation or aggravation
- The service-connected primary condition being pointed to
- Timeline of GI symptoms in relation to the primary condition
- Peer-reviewed medical reasoning applied to your specific record
IBS & GERD
Why IBS and GERD deserve separate analysis
GERD and IBS have distinct diagnostic criteria and distinct rating pathways. When the record supports both, they should be claimed as separate conditions. Read about GERD nexus letters →
Considering an IBS secondary claim?
An individualized medical review of what the record actually shows.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Started
Talk to a psychiatrist and former C&P examiner
Share your name, email, and phone. We'll take you straight to the calendar to pick a time.