Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2006

The veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for migraines was denied for the period from March 20, 1998 to November 29, 2004. However, his claim was granted with an effective date of November 30, 2004 and a disability evaluation of 30 percent for the period from that date forward.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma is due to his active duty service, specifically his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

The Board found that the veteran's abdominal disability, diagnosed as irritable colon syndrome, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to conflicting diagnoses and inadequate evidence regarding the onset of his claimed conditions during service.

Service connection granted for hypertension with an effective date of January 24, 2003.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness and lethargy is denied. The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his panic disorder and major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence is also denied.

The veteran's service-connected undiagnosed illness manifested by arthralgia, fatigue, and headaches is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's rectal bleeding is associated with his service-connected hemorrhoids and denied both his claim for an increased evaluation for hemorrhoids and his claim for service connection for undiagnosed illness manifested by rectal bleeding.

The veteran's claim for service connection for breathing problems, claimed as an undiagnosed illness, is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his varicella pneumonia residuals or peroneal neuropathy, and there was no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and fatty tissue nodules on the back and legs. The claim for a disability due to an undiagnosed illness was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, gastrointestinal condition due to an undiagnosed illness, muscle pain due to an undiagnosed illness, and a nervous condition (claimed as sleep disturbance) due to an undiagnosed illness. The veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by nausea and vomiting. The claim has been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not participate in combat with the enemy during his period of service from 1958 to 1962 and, therefore, his statements alone cannot be accepted as evidence. The claims for service connection for residuals of broken fingers of the right hand, multiple wounds to the head, hands, arms, legs, and back, a broken nose and deviated nasal septum, joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness, gastrointestinal disorder and weight gain due to an undiagnosed illness, leg and feet swelling due to an undiagnosed illness, and fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as the evidence does not show that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, tinnitus, tendonitis of the right elbow, short windedness due to an undiagnosed illness, nonspecific polyarthralgia due to an undiagnosed illness, and sinusitis were all denied by the Board.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and a sleep disorder due to an undiagnosed illness, as well as for gastritis, gastrointestinal reflux disease, diverticulitis, and a stomach disorder due to an undiagnosed illness. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or the veteran's Persian Gulf service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and additional notice to the veteran.