Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2018

The appeal for service connection for low back pain is dismissed.,A higher initial (compensable) disability rating for the service-connected undiagnosed illness manifested by headaches from November 9, 2001 to September 4, 2009 is denied; a higher initial rating of 30 percent, but not higher, for the period from September 4, 2009, is granted.,For the period from May 25, 2013, a separate rating of 20 percent for the service-connected undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue and muscle twitching is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for nervous condition (claimed as depression), pulmonary condition, erectile dysfunction, respiratory problems, and migraines have been denied.,New evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of service connection for nervous condition (claimed as depression) and pulmonary condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues include determining whether new evidence was received to reopen a claim, as well as evaluating various conditions such as tinnitus, rotator cuff disorders, arthritis, Gulf War syndrome, joint pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory disorder, fatigue, skin disorder, knee tendonitis, ankle disorders, and others. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded to allow for further review and examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for breathing condition, sleep apnea, and various finger joint conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that would warrant service connection.,Service connection was not granted because the VA examiner found no current diagnosis of any respiratory condition and determined that the Veteran’s symptoms were related to aging and physical deconditioning. The Veteran's sleep apnea was also attributed to obesity, which developed post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or chronic fatigue syndrome, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.,For the joint condition (claimed as Gulf War Illness) and muscle condition (claimed as due to Gulf War Illness), an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's original claim did not mention PTSD, but he indicated stress related to Gulf War service. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at December 11, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The cases of right ankle disability, skin rash (undiagnosed illness), and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition.,Direct service connection for alcohol dependence is denied due to the Veteran's own willful misconduct.,Service connection for skin disorder (undiagnosed illness) is denied as there is no objective evidence of signs or symptoms.,Service connection for left lower extremity numbness and right lower extremity numbness (undiagnosed illness) are denied as there is no objective evidence of signs or symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to various symptoms and disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, and an undiagnosed Gulf War illness due to lack of a current diagnosis in the record.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and an undiagnosed illness have been denied.,His bilateral hearing loss has also been denied, with the noncompensable rating remaining unchanged throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, chronic venous stasis vascular disease in both legs, and ankle sores due to undiagnosed illness, have resulted in an inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, feed himself without assistance, attend to the wants of nature on a regular basis, and protect himself from daily hazards. The Veteran needs aid and attendance for these reasons.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic allergic rhinitis, an undiagnosed illness manifested by gastrointestinal symptoms, rotator cuff strain and arthritis of the acromioclavicular joint of the left shoulder, and hypertension have all been granted. The initial rating for hypertension is set at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left eye disability is not service connected as it was not caused or aggravated by military service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection for diarrhea of unknown etiology has been granted due to the Veteran being a Persian Gulf Veteran and meeting criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is manifested by no more than Level I hearing impairment in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating.,Entitlement to service connection for residuals of cervical spine fusion at C4-5 and lumbosacral spine fusion at L4-5, as well as neuropathy of the right leg associated with these conditions, is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, undiagnosed illness resulting in numbness of arms, fatigue, headaches, sleeping difficulties, joint and muscle pain, low back disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for hyperlipidemia, Gulf War Syndrome with unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (including manifestations of headaches, muscle aches, joint aches, and fatigue), and renal calculus are being remanded due to incomplete development. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical evidence or undergo further examinations.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for degenerative changes, left knee with Baker’s cyst; chronic left ankle disability; seborrheic dermatitis (claimed as a skin condition due to undiagnosed illness); and hypothyroidism. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent fatigue and GERD were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to September 19, 2012, a 100 percent rating from June 1, 2016 onward, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, erectile dysfunction, skin condition as due to undiagnosed illness, obstructive sleep apnea, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, low back condition, hypertension, and right shoulder condition.,However, some of these issues have been remanded for further development.