Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2014

The Veteran's sleep disorder is found to be due to his service-connected PTSD. The Gulf War illness claim and the secondary service connection claim for other symptoms are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The remaining issues on appeal are referred back to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Gullian-Barre syndrome and a disability manifested by chronic cough was denied. The Board found that there is no credible evidence of residuals from Gullian-Barre syndrome, and the Veteran's chronic cough has been attributed to his sinusitis.,The Veteran's hypertension, sinusitis, and left internal carotid dissection were all rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for joint pain, muscle spasm, and leg pains. Bilateral foot pains due to an undiagnosed illness are presumed incurred in active military service.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and is granting service connection for joint pain, reopening the claim based on new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and his symptoms are more likely related to non-service-connected conditions or natural aging processes.

The Veteran's joint pains, including bilateral knee and shoulder pains, are found to be due to undiagnosed illness related to his service in the Persian Gulf War. The claims for genital warts, herpes, shingles with residuals of nerve and joint pains, and broken ribs were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a connection to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for neck, back, no feeling in upper left torso, bilateral hips, bilateral hands, problems due to an undiagnosed illness, breathing problems in lungs due to sarin nerve poisoning, and constant fatigue as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claims for Gulf War Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Sleep Apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or connection to service.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for joint pain due to undiagnosed illness on an extraschedular basis, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's PTSD and migraine headaches are rated appropriately, with the PTSD receiving a 70% rating for the entire appeals period. The claims to reopen for rashes due to an undiagnosed illness and hemorrhoids have been granted. Additional VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for acne and multiple joint and muscle pain, but denied the claims of service connection for an eye disorder and a smell disorder. The Veteran's eye disorder is attributed to known conditions, and his smell disorder is not considered due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome or an undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue. The claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a blood disorder, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), finding that the evidence did not establish these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.