Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and gastrointestinal disability have been denied.,New evidence has reopened the claims for service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type I and a disability manifested by chronic fatigue and diarrhea, finding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic multisymptom illness and has determined that an effective date earlier than March 2, 2012, is warranted for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his chronic multisymptom illness was found to be plausible due to the evidence showing a relationship between the condition and his military service. For the left lower extremity neuropathy, the Board determined that an effective date earlier than March 2, 2012, is warranted as the Veteran's claim can be construed as seeking a separate compensable disability rating for the neurologic manifestations of his service-connected low back strain.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran did not have any diagnosed conditions related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a supplemental medical opinion regarding the Veteran's memory loss and its relation to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his undiagnosed illness with irritable bowel symptoms, headache, general fatigue, chronic multisymptom joint pain of the upper and lower extremities, and chronic cough. The claim will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues of service connection for a bilateral wrist condition and an undiagnosed illness as a result of the Gulf War are not resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess her need for aid and attendance and whether she is housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for numbness of the left cheek and stuttering, both claimed as due to undiagnosed illness during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide a comprehensive examination. The claims for service connection will be reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for numbness of the left cheek and stuttering, both claimed as due to undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury and a sleep disorder were withdrawn. The Board granted higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities, including scars.,Headaches prior to June 20, 2014 are rated at 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee pain, finding that it is due to an undiagnosed illness incurred during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of her claims, including a potential claim for a higher evaluation for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for systemic scleroderma and associated manifestations has been granted, but the issue is dismissed as moot due to the grant of benefits.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining a stressor verification and an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a videoconference hearing due to his failure to appear at the scheduled date. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including locating missing documents and adjudicating a claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal regarding payment or reimbursement of private medical expenses will be returned to the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional testing. The Veteran's respiratory disability, including asthma, bronchitis, or an undiagnosed illness, is being reviewed.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorders have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses of chondromalacia patella, osteoarthritis, and patellofemoral syndrome. The claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders are denied as the disorders are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.