Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2002

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lung disorder, chronic fatigue, and joint pain and muscle soreness due to an undiagnosed illness. The appeal is based on the veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed low back disability, foot fungus, rhinitis, sinusitis, headache disorder (claimed as secondary to service-connected ear disabilities), labyrinthitis (secondary to service-connected ear disabilities), fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness, and hypertension. The veteran's anxiety neurosis and PTSD were granted a 50 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The tingling sensation of the body, fatigue, memory loss and headaches due to undiagnosed illness are not considered disabling enough for a compensable evaluation. Patello femoral pain syndrome is not related to service or an undiagnosed illness. Depression was also not found to be related to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for HIV infection and an undiagnosed illness, finding no evidence of the conditions in service and insufficient medical nexus to establish a link between current symptoms and military service.

The veteran's headaches, fatigue, and fever are not considered to be due to an undiagnosed illness related to service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for branchial asthma, extraction of third molars (for treatment), umbilical little reducible hernia, generalized arthralgia due to undiagnosed illness, and residuals of a right shoulder separation. The reasons were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including multiple joint and muscle pains due to undiagnosed illness and minimal change disease, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish a current disability for either condition.

The veteran's sleep disturbance and abnormal weight loss are not considered to be due to an undiagnosed illness that developed in service during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic acquired mood or anxiety disorder, osteoarthritis of the hips, and bilateral leg disorder (claimed as cramps), all due to an undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and irritable bowel symptoms due to lack of evidence linking the disability to service. Service connection was granted for generalized anxiety disorder incurred in service. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various manifestations of undiagnosed illnesses, including dizziness, headaches, joint pain, and memory loss. The decision also noted that the veteran's left knee disability was rated based on its current severity rather than pre-service impairment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of credible supporting evidence and clear and unmistakable evidence regarding preexisting conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a chronic disability manifested by an irregular heart beat and gastrointestinal disorder, both claimed as undiagnosed illnesses resulting from service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of head trauma and right hand trauma, but granted service connection for keloids of the chest and a disability described as viral syndrome with lymphoproliferative disorder, which is presumed to be related to Gulf War service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back disorder, a low back disability claimed as an undiagnosed illness, musculoskeletal symptoms to include finger numbness and shoulder and neck joint throbbing, and knee pain. The reasons were that there was no evidence of a chronic low back disorder during or after service.

The veteran's skin disorders of the feet and recurrent hives are presumed to be due to an undiagnosed illness incurred in service. However, his numbness of hands and feet is also presumed to be due to an undiagnosed illness, but there was no evidence linking this condition specifically to service.

The Board finds that the veteran's undiagnosed illnesses manifested by chronic fatigue and pain in the lower extremities are presumed to have been incurred in service due to his Gulf War service.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by active service and not due to exposure in the Persian Gulf. The veteran's skin disability was not related to his military service, chronic fatigue is presumed due to service in the Persian Gulf, weight loss has no presumptive basis, parotidectomy is not service-connected, and hypothyroidism did not arise during or as a result of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims are granted for left foot injury, chronic respiratory condition (undiagnosed illness), joint pain, swelling, and weakness of the lower extremities, bilateral, gastrointestinal disorder (irritable bowel syndrome), migraine and tension headaches, fatigue, and back disability. The conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by signs or symptoms involving the skin, finding no competent medical evidence of a chronic disability due to an undiagnosed illness.