Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic disability manifested by a cough, including bronchitis and due to an undiagnosed illness was denied as the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that such condition is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a disorder manifested by fatigue and stiffness, as well as cold/flu syndrome or disability following in-service influenza vaccination. The Veteran did not have current disabilities that matched the claimed conditions distinct from his already service-connected polyarthralgia syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted a non-compensable evaluation for his hearing loss in the right ear, but his claim for an initial compensable rating for his hearing loss in the left ear remains denied.

The Veteran's headaches, chronic fatigue, and mood swings are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these symptoms to his military service. His depression is secondary to his service-connected cervical spondylosis.

The Veteran's chronic multisymptom illness characterized by widespread pain, including fibromyalgia, is granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with no specific reasoning provided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hair loss was denied as there is no objective medical evidence of a chronic disability that cannot be attributed to known clinical diagnoses. The Board found the Veteran had multiple dermatological conditions, but not a chronic condition resulting from an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Veteran's headaches do not result in significant impairment on employment or frequent hospitalization, and therefore a disability rating in excess of 50 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased evaluations have been granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability. However, the appellant's current back disability was not clinically evident during service or within an applicable presumptive period, nor is there any probative evidence indicating it may be associated with an established event, injury, or disease in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and a left arm condition, but denied these claims as they are not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle pains, thoracolumbar spine disorder, bilateral shin splints, and muscle and joint pains due to an undiagnosed illness. The claim for increased ratings for retropatellar pain syndrome of both knees and headaches have also been denied.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was found to be incurred in active service in Southwest Asia. The symptoms of fatigue, dizziness, memory loss, and loss of concentration are already associated with his service-connected PTSD and not secondary to undiagnosed illness or otherwise incurred during active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's foot problems and constellation of symptoms are due to an undiagnosed illness, and service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a video conference hearing at the RO for issues related to service connection for multiple sclerosis, an undiagnosed illness, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal, left knee, and aching joint disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not linked to his service or any incident therein.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue.

The Veteran's IBS with lactose deficiency has been granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent, effective May 1, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the August 2008 statement of the case and a VA examination is required.