Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hyperopia, a skin condition, muscle and joint pain, tonsillectomy, and gastroesophageal reflux. The appeals were based on new evidence that reopened the cases.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the extent of his joint pain due to undiagnosed illness as distinguished from other service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new legislation.

The veteran's chronic upper respiratory infections are found to have originated during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) and dyspepsia, as well as his claim for an undiagnosed illness manifested by diarrhea and abdominal pain. The RO is instructed to schedule another gastrointestinal examination and issue a statement of the case on the issues of service connection for migraine headaches, including loss of left eye vision, fatigue, and joint pain.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the claims for service connection related to undiagnosed illnesses were denied as there was no pending claim at the time of his death.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder, including a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness, as there were no objective indications of such conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nightmares, depression, headaches, nausea, excessive sweating, fatigue, swelling from insect bites, symptoms of a flu-like virus, and red eyes as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness due to lack of objective evidence of chronic disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist synovitis, joint and muscle pains due to an undiagnosed illness, cold intolerance, and entitlement to a higher effective date for service connection of chronic diarrhea. The claims were found not supported by evidence showing a direct link to military service.

The veteran's abdominal pain, gastroesophageal reflux, and multiple joint pain are considered to be due to an undiagnosed illness during her service in the Persian Gulf. These conditions have been granted service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional service medical records and VA treatment records.

PTSD was granted as service-connected, and headaches and memory loss due to undiagnosed illness were also granted. However, rectal bleeding due to an undiagnosed illness remains denied.,The veteran's PTSD is presumed based on combat experience in the Persian Gulf War.

The veteran was granted service connection for night sweats, which were incurred in active wartime service. The Board found no evidence of a current memory loss disability and denied the claim based on lack of objective indications of chronic disability resulting from an illness or combination of illnesses manifested by one or more signs or symptoms such as those listed in paragraph (b) of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The veteran's skin rash on the right foot was denied service connection, with no evidence of objective indications of a chronic disability resulting from an illness or combination of illnesses manifested by one or more signs or symptoms such as those listed in paragraph (b) of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The veteran's left knee strain was granted service connection. The right knee condition, initially rated at 10%, is denied for a higher rating. Service connection for lumbosacral strain is granted with an initial evaluation of 10%. Service connection for left shoulder strain is denied.

The veteran was awarded a permanent and total disability rating due to service-connected disabilities effective November 1992, establishing the appellant's basic eligibility for Chapter 35 benefits. The appeal is denied as retroactive Chapter 35 benefits are not payable for any period prior to December 15, 1997.

The Board finds a reasonable possibility exists that further examination or development will aid in establishing service connection for visual disability and tension headaches.,There is no reasonable possibility of establishing service connection for memory loss or profuse sweating.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches and memory loss due to undiagnosed illnesses are not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including as due to undiagnosed illness. The appeal was reopened based on new evidence but the claim itself remains denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid dysfunction and dermatitis are not well grounded. The claim of shortness of breath as due to an undiagnosed illness was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for left patellofemoral chondromalacia with medial patellar plica, gastrointestinal disorder due to an undiagnosed illness, and skin rash (tinea pedis) are well grounded. The lumbar spine disorder claim is also considered well grounded.