Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a back disability, sinusitis (claimed as due to undiagnosed illness), fibromyositis (claimed as due to undiagnosed illness), thyroid disorder, and skin disorder. The appeals are granted.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including cardiovascular disease due to undiagnosed illness and rhinitis. The effective date of the increased rating for residuals of tonsillectomy was not changed.

The Board denied service connection for various undiagnosed illnesses and memory loss and insomnia, finding no evidence linking the veteran's symptoms to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for undiagnosed illness causing head shaking, but granted service connection for essential tremor. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain was remanded due to his failure to report for a VA examination.

The Board has found the veteran's PTSD is service-connected. The issue of service connection for an undiagnosed illness related to service in Southwest Asia remains pending and requires further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a sleep study report and an addendum from the VA examiner. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or other claimed conditions, and the VA did not find any basis for granting service connection.

The Board has ordered additional examinations and development due to the lack of recent VA examination reports, which are necessary for a proper evaluation of the veteran's claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with VA examinations to determine his current conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board found that the veteran's tendonitis of bilateral elbows and infertility due to undiagnosed illness were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not increase in severity during service and was not aggravated by any disorder of service origin.

The Board found that neither flu-like symptoms nor an eye disorder were incurred or aggravated by service. The veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying stressors.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disability, gynecological disability, bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, right shoulder and jaw disorders, chronic headaches, allergies, and hearing loss. The decision also addressed presumptive service connection claims based on undiagnosed illnesses.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His chronic low back strain is currently rated at 40 percent, his umbilical hernia repair at 10 percent, and he does not have a cervical spine condition.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain and bilateral inguinal hernias, and found that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The other claims were denied as not supported by evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions from a VA examiner regarding the appellant's cardiac arrhythmia.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for undiagnosed illness manifested by multiple joint pains and headaches, currently rated at 40 percent, has been denied as the evidence does not show symptoms that warrant a higher evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the validity of his service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's joint disability, including an undiagnosed illness, is not related to service and cannot be presumed due to his Gulf War service. The veteran's symptoms are attributed to a known clinical diagnosis of arthritis.