Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2009

The Board has found that the Veteran's fatigue and bilateral knee pain, diagnosed as fibromyalgia associated with bilateral knee pain, are presumed to have been incurred during her service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as arranging for medical opinions regarding PTSD, hypertension, undiagnosed illness, fatigue, weakness, sleep disturbance, mild cognitive impairment, and bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for muscle tension headaches due to undiagnosed illness and fibromyalgia are being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's undiagnosed illness manifested by sensitivity to petroleum products and profuse sweating is causally related to his active service. The criteria for establishing service connection for sinusitis, hiatal hernia with GERD, and sleep apnea have not been met.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for joint pain, including as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle and joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness is denied as there are no diagnosed illnesses found.,Service connection for bilateral elbow tendinitis is denied as the condition was not incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's headaches, nausea, body aches, night sweats and sores have been attributed to falciparum malaria. Service connection for an undiagnosed illness is denied. However, the Veteran's service-connected falciparum malaria does not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, asthma or breathing problems due to an undiagnosed illness, and joint and muscle pain due to an undiagnosed illness. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to undiagnosed illnesses during his active duty in Southwest Asia, specifically the Persian Gulf War. The evidence now shows that he experienced breathing problems and a severe gag reflex with vocal cord dysfunction or laryngeal spasm related to this exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, joint pain, and muscle pain due to an undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not establish current disabilities or a nexus between any claimed conditions and military service.

Service connection is granted for a hernia, tinnitus, night sweats due to an undiagnosed illness. Service connection is denied for sinus infections and throat irritation due to an undiagnosed illness, and respiratory disability and skin disability.,The Veteran's hernia was noted prior to service and not aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and undiagnosed illness from Gulf War syndrome were denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD, and the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has an undiagnosed illness. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disorder and chest pain, both claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness. The claim for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis was denied. The August 1998 denial of service connection for dizziness, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is final. New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for dizziness.

The Board denied reopening of claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral foot pain and paresthesia are related to fibromyalgia, which is already service-connected. The bunion deformities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for undiagnosed illnesses manifested by sleep disturbances, blood in the urine, and anxiety or other neuropsychological signs or symptoms. The claim is granted as these conditions are presumed to have been incurred due to active military service.

The Veteran's headaches are not service-connected as they are attributed to a known clinical diagnosis of muscle tension headaches.,Service connection is granted for shortness of breath, weakness with associated fatigue and lack of energy, and dizziness as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service stressors and the presence of an undiagnosed illness. The issues related to seborrheic dermatitis, reactive airway disease, and trouble sleeping with grinding of teeth are pending.