Digestive

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) C&P Exam Guide

Associated DBQ Form: DBQ Intestinal Conditions

What to Expect During Your Exam

The IBS C&P exam is usually 20-30 minutes and focuses on your symptoms and their frequency.

The exam includes:
1. Review of diagnosis and medical history
2. Discussion of bowel habit changes
3. Assessment of abdominal pain and discomfort
4. Evaluation of impact on daily activities
5. Review of treatments tried

Questions the Examiner May Ask

  • 1 How often do you experience IBS symptoms?
  • 2 Do you have more constipation or diarrhea, or alternating?
  • 3 How severe is your abdominal pain or cramping?
  • 4 Do you have urgency or accidents?
  • 5 How many bowel movements do you have per day?
  • 6 What triggers your symptoms?
  • 7 How does IBS affect your ability to work?
  • 8 What treatments have you tried?
  • 9 Do you follow a specific diet for IBS?

Documentation to Bring

  • Medical records confirming IBS diagnosis
  • Documentation of symptoms over time
  • Results of any colonoscopy or other testing
  • Records of treatments and medications
  • Service treatment records showing GI issues
  • Documentation of impact on work or activities

How to Prepare

Before your exam:

1. **Track your symptoms** - Frequency, type (diarrhea/constipation), severity

2. **Document episodes** - How many times per week do you have symptoms?

3. **Note triggers** - Stress, foods, activities that worsen symptoms

4. **List functional impacts** - Missing work, needing bathroom access, avoiding activities

5. **Know your treatments** - Medications, dietary changes, their effectiveness

Helpful Tips

- Be specific about frequency and severity of episodes
- Describe how symptoms affect your work (need to be near bathroom, missing work)
- Mention if you've had accidents or near-accidents
- Discuss any weight loss or nutritional concerns
- Report how symptoms affect travel, social activities, and daily routine
- Mention if stress worsens your symptoms (common connection to service)
- Keep a symptom diary leading up to the exam

Common Mistakes to Avoid

- Claiming daily severe episodes with no medical documentation
- No treatment records for claimed severe IBS
- Inconsistency between reported symptoms and lifestyle

How VA Rates This Condition

IBS is rated under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7319 (Irritable Colon Syndrome):

**0%** - Mild: Disturbances of bowel function with occasional episodes of abdominal distress

**10%** - Moderate: Frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress

**30%** - Severe: Diarrhea, or alternating diarrhea and constipation, with more or less constant abdominal distress

**Note:** For higher ratings, consider if symptoms would warrant rating under another diagnostic code (e.g., if there's documented malnutrition or significant weight loss).