Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's reported joint pain and degenerative changes are not shown to be medically attributable to any diagnosed underlying pathology. There is no medical evidence of a relationship between the demonstrated degenerative joint disease and any event or incident of his period of active service.

The VA denied service connection for left ankle disability and irritable bowel syndrome, finding no current disabilities related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to procedural and evidentiary deficiencies.

The Board denied service connection for muscle pain, neurological symptoms (excluding headaches), mood swings, skin rashes, and menstrual disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, multiple joint pain (including as due to an undiagnosed illness), hysterectomy, and diabetes mellitus. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder, finding no current disability and rejecting both direct service connection and presumptive service connection due to an undiagnosed illness. The claim was reopened based on new evidence but still denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a liver disorder, bilateral chondromalacia, hair loss and sinusitis. The issues of service connection for these conditions are pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left thigh pain and dizziness due to undiagnosed illness during the Persian Gulf War are granted. The veteran is also awarded initial compensable ratings for his headaches, abdominal muscle strain, and right forearm scar.

The veteran's hair loss is not considered due to an undiagnosed illness and is not related to his service. The increased ratings for instability of the left knee and degenerative joint disease of the left knee are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's IBS is service-connected, with a rating of 10 percent. The issue regarding memory problems remains pending.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and finds that it is presumed to have been incurred during active service. The low back pain, visual impairment, and streptococcal infection are also found to be due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss, to include due to an undiagnosed illness. The decision is based on the reopening of the claim on new evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of stressors and VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's fatigue, while debilitating, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6354 and denied his claim for an increased evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities in service or within one year post-service, with the exception of a diagnosis of dry eyes and refractive error in November 1997.

The Board found no competent evidence of a current disorder related to joint pain or an undiagnosed illness, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and shortness of breath have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support these conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by nausea and vomiting is denied as there are no objective indications of chronic disability resulting from an illness or combination of illnesses.