Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis and fatigue, claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness and/or medically unexplained chronic multisystem illness. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a medical examination. The claims for increased ratings of chronic headaches, relapse fever/night sweats, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, residual scars (due to removal of swollen lymph nodes), multiple joint pain, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and blurred vision and twitching of the left eye are also being remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical strain and a skin condition due to an undiagnosed illness, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted as service connection due to in-service motor vehicle accident.,Service connection for fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness during active duty in Southwest Asia is granted. The Veteran has experienced continuous fatigue symptoms since service.,Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are denied, with the opinion that memory loss is more likely related to posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom respiratory illness, finding that the Veteran's symptoms met the criteria of a qualifying chronic disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, a back disability, and other conditions has been granted with an effective date of October 29, 2012. The appeal is denied for the remaining issues.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for various conditions, as he did not timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Veteran's undiagnosed illness manifested by right upper quadrant (RUQ)/abdominal pain and fatigue is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been granted service connection due to its presumptive nature based on his service in Southwest Asia.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied as the evidence does not support a diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, back disorder, bilateral leg disorder, right foot disorder, and stomach disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a sleep disorder has been reopened, and the Board finds that new evidence received since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. The claims for higher ratings for thoracolumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, TDIU, neck condition, and respiratory condition are REMANDED as they involve new evidence or issues not previously addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and an undiagnosed illness due to lack of adequate supporting evidence in the current record.

Service connection granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder.,Service connection denied for hepatitis B.,Service connection remanded for fatigue, diarrhea, skin rash, sleep disorder, stomach disorder, respiratory disorder, and hepatitis C.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The claim for an undiagnosed illness as due to Gulf War exposure is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, Gulf War Syndrome (to include psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and unexplained aches and pains), PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is denied.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased evaluation and service connection for fatigue, depression, and tension headaches have been dismissed due to his death.,No new evidence or changes in the law were presented that would allow these claims to be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient examinations and incomplete medical records.,No current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, skin rash, or right ankle disability was found.