Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2012

The Veteran's skin condition of the feet (tinea pedis) is service-connected. His insomnia and fatigue due to PTSD are not separately service-connected.

The Veteran's Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is related to active service, and the Board finds that it was incurred therein. The claim for an undiagnosed illness is granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, lumbar spine disorder, and stiffness of joints due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain his service treatment records and determine the etiology of his claimed conditions, including back injury, gastrointestinal disorder, sleep apnea, and undiagnosed illness. The examiner will assess whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for joint aches, including as due to an undiagnosed illness associated with Gulf War service and secondary to PTSD. The case is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The issues of service connection for chronic fatigue, bad eye sight, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, thyroid cancer, necrotizing pancreatitis disability, and TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for shortness of breath, skin disorder, vertigo, digestive disorder, chronic fatigue and memory problems are all dismissed as there is no evidence of a service connection basis.,Service connection was granted for the residuals of a hysterectomy but with an unspecified rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of the knees are found to have been incurred during his service.,Lightheadedness and dizziness, presumed to be related to his Persian Gulf War service, are also found to have been incurred during his service.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The remaining issues on appeal are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 60 percent for fatigue due to undiagnosed illness has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or a chronic undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain, joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness affecting the right ankle, left hip, and both shoulders, and sinusitis with headaches and blurred vision are all rated at their maximum disability levels of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased evaluations under applicable rating codes.

The Veteran's night sweats are presumed to be related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,While the Veteran has reported bilateral shoulder pain, there is no evidence that it is due to an undiagnosed illness or otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness of IBS, including undiagnosed illness, has been granted service connection due to the continuity of symptoms since active duty in the Southwest Asia theater.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with symptoms of panic and chronic fatigue syndrome as a result of an undiagnosed illness. The claims for lumbar spine disorder, psychiatric disorder, and right ear hearing loss have been denied.

The Veteran's right wrist joint pains have been found to be due to an undiagnosed illness, resulting in a grant of service connection. However, there is no evidence of a chronic condition associated with esophagitis reflux during the appeal period.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for headaches, an undiagnosed illness manifested by heart palpitations, breathing difficulties and chest discomfort, fatigue and insomnia, and a gastrointestinal disability including diarrhea, parasites, and blood in the sputum. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's respiratory problems, other than sinusitis, are found to be related to service.,Sinusitis is considered a preexisting condition that worsened during service.