Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for heart symptoms but denied service connection for the claimed undiagnosed illness (possible endocarditis) due to lack of evidence linking it to active duty. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected headaches. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's left knee strain and bilateral shoulder strain are not related to active service, including service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The Veteran's menstrual disability is presumed due to undiagnosed illness during service.,The Veteran's hallux valgus was noted upon entry into active duty service but did not increase during service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including Gulf War Syndrome, depression, neuropathy, radiculopathy, and various other symptoms. The issues are related to service connection for these conditions, with some seeking reopening of a previously denied claim for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and fatigue have been granted increased ratings of 10 percent each, while the acquired psychiatric disorders are rated at 50 percent. The TDIU claim has been withdrawn.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a respiratory disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claimed sleeping problems, muscle, bone or joint pain of the ankles, back and knees, short-term memory loss, and gastrointestinal complaints are not service-connected as they have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses. The Board finds no nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an undiagnosed illness manifested by a sleep disorder or abnormal weight loss arising from his active service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War. The most probative evidence indicates these conditions are due to his service-connected psychiatric disability, PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is not ready for appellate disposition due to an outstanding VA hearing request. The case must be remanded so the Veteran can be scheduled for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating for PTSD was not granted as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain and cardiac disease due to undiagnosed illness, short-term memory loss due to undiagnosed illness, left elbow disability (muscle injury), and mood disorder have been denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for a left elbow disability as secondary to his service-connected left biceps rupture with tenotomy.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of left biceps rupture with tenotomy and status post greater tuberosity fracture, left upper extremity, rotator cuff tendonitis are not addressed in this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not related to her military service or events therein, and denied all claims.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further evidentiary development, including obtaining SSA records and any relevant VA medical treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, stomach disorder, left ankle disorder, and left Achilles tendon disorder are pending. The Veteran does not have established hearing loss related to his military service.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are presumed to have been incurred in active service due to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder is likely due to service, and grants service connection for this condition. The skin rash on his arms, legs, and face is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected joint pain due to undiagnosed illness is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent.,Service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral knee disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected joint pain.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it had its onset from an injury, disease or event of active service origin.,The Veteran's conduction aphasia and receptive aprosodia (stuttering) are service-connected as they had their onset from an injury, disease or event of active service origin.,There is no evidence to support the claim for a cognitive disability. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with this condition during service or within one year after separation, and it is unrelated to any injury or disease in service.,The Veteran's headache disability does not meet the criteria for service connection as there is no evidence of such a condition during service or within one year after separation.,The Veteran has an undiagnosed illness manifested by sore and tender muscles/joint pain of the elbows, shoulders, calves, and knees. This condition had its onset from an injury, disease, or event of active service origin.,The Veteran has an undiagnosed illness manifested by low back pain. This condition also had its onset from an injury, disease, or event of active service origin.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea and memory loss are not related to service, with the weight of evidence favoring a diagnosis of known disorders rather than an undiagnosed illness. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sexual dysfunction, headaches, fatigue, back pain, bilateral hip disabilities, knee disabilities, shoulder disabilities, elbow disabilities, and left ankle disability. The appeals were reopened on new evidence but the claims were ultimately denied.