Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his IBS was not more than severe in severity and that his left hip residuals did not meet criteria for ankylosis or other compensable limitations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to service connection for bilateral tinea pedis, multiple joint pain indicative of an undiagnosed illness, and a left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected disability due to undiagnosed illness manifested by psychiatric symptomatology. The case will also be considered for entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is remanded. The timeliness of his appeals regarding joint and muscular pain, DDD of the lumbar spine, lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is also remanded.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea and insomnia are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability. The Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records and provide addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for a joint condition, fibromyalgia, an undiagnosed illness, and TBI. The case will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen a disability manifested by fatigue (undiagnosed illness) was not supported by new and material evidence, while the claim to reopen a disability manifested by joint aches (undiagnosed illness) was supported by such evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for respiratory symptoms, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is denied because there is no current diagnosis of a respiratory condition and the evidence does not support a finding that his symptoms cannot be attributed to a known diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed fatigue and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he did not provide evidence of a current disability or link to service. The Board found no evidence of undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained multisymptom illnesses.

The Veteran's shortness of breath is considered symptomatology associated with an undiagnosed illness that manifested during his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is being remanded for additional development. The VA examiner will review the new medical records and provide updated opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic disability manifested by memory loss, including as due to undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of those related to PTSD and depressive disorder. The remaining conditions are either already established or not yet determined.

The Veteran does not have a lung disability or symptoms due to an undiagnosed illness that can be linked to his service, including his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability. The claims for left hand laceration residuals and neck pain (undiagnosed illness) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue and sleeplessness have been denied as these conditions are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental incapacity, as evidenced by multiple hospitalizations and inability to manage personal finances.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional examination to determine the extent of her service-connected disabilities' impact on her employability.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA aid and attendance/housebound examination. The claims for increased ratings will also be adjudicated.