Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2008

The veteran's flu-like symptoms due to an undiagnosed illness are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia and granted it. The claims for hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae, chronic rash/rosacea, and a periumbilical scar have been addressed.,Pseudofolliculitis barbae and chronic rash/rosacea were found to be incurred in service.

The Board found that the veteran's dizziness is attributable to a diagnosed condition (migraine headaches) and not due to undiagnosed illness, thus denying service connection for this issue. The somatoform disorder claim was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to her period of service.

The veteran's appeal was timely filed for his claims of service connection for chronic fatigue, various undiagnosed illnesses, and a mental disorder. The Board found that the August 1995 submission constituted a timely substantive appeal to the November 1994 rating decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for low back disability, chronic headache disability, rheumatoid arthritis as a result of an undiagnosed illness, and acral hyperhidrosis as a result of an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for elbow pain, headaches, liver and abdominal pain, and major depressive disorder due to a lack of objective indications of these conditions during or since service.

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

The veteran's service connection claims for tinea versicolor and hypertension were granted, while the remaining conditions were denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, eczema, a knee disorder, right shoulder tendonitis, and joint stiffness due to undiagnosed illness. The appellant's PTSD was rated 70 percent effective February 20, 2004, with an additional increase to 100 percent as of December 31, 2007, for the migraine headache disability prior to June 9, 2005, and a non-compensable evaluation thereafter.

The veteran's claims for service connection for elevated cholesterol, a stomach disorder, shortness of breath (claimed as due to undiagnosed illness), and a bilateral foot disability were denied.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied service connection for a deviated septum, residuals of a head injury (including headaches), psychiatric disability, fatigue, sleep impairment, hair loss, muscle and joint pain, and skin disability. The veteran was also denied the opportunity to reopen his claim for a deviated septum but allowed him to reopen his claim for residuals of a head injury.

The Board restored the 10 percent rating for intermittent skin rash and granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, sleep disability, right foot disability, and sinus disability. The claim for an initial compensable rating for eczema was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, joint pain and weakness due to undiagnosed illness, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for duodenitis with duodenal ulcer and abdominal pain.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development and readjudication of the claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and joint pain due to undiagnosed illness were reopened, but the claim for residuals of fracture of the right thumb was denied. The claim for bilateral post-traumatic elbow epicondylitis was also denied.

The veteran's internal hemorrhoids, vasomotor rhinitis, and diastasis of the umbilicus muscles were rated at 0 percent. Service connection for breathing problems due to an undiagnosed illness was denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. The remaining claims were denied as there is no evidence of a causal link between the claimed conditions and service, or that they are due to an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, but new and material evidence was found to reopen the claim for a foot condition. The other claims remained denied.