Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2019

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and undiagnosed respiratory condition have been granted service connection.,A skin condition has been granted initial disability ratings from November 2, 1994 to August 12, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, knee, and low back disabilities are not service-connected.,However, the Veteran was granted service connection for headaches and muscle aches, both claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for a right eye disability, respiratory disability, right hip disability, and TBI. However, it denied these claims as there is no evidence to support that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including headaches, menstrual issues and blackouts, pulmonary embolism, GERD, right foot pes planus, and asthma. The RO is instructed to obtain additional medical records and schedule VA examinations for her asthma and right foot condition.

The Veteran's latent tuberculosis (TB) is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and a skin disability, claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Gulf War Syndrome, Erectile Dysfunction, and other conditions due to insufficient medical opinions in the original examination reports. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, insomnia, headaches, an unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence related to his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia with irritable bowel syndrome was granted, effective November 30, 2014.

The Board has denied service connection for internal hemorrhoids, allergic rhinitis, proctitis, skin rash (including as due to an undiagnosed illness), and gastrointestinal disability with dysphagia. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional examinations.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions listed above.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for recurrent acne was denied due to his failure to report for a VA examination.,Claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, Gulf War syndrome, and vascular condition were previously denied as the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral elbow disability, fractured ribs, residuals of an eye injury, right ear hearing loss, Gulf War Syndrome, and left knee disability. The decision also remanded several issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The claims for service connection for a back disability, skin condition, chronic headaches, and Gulf War Syndrome were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an undiagnosed illness, a left foot disability, and headaches are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the existing records.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue is granted as an undiagnosed Gulf War illness, and her coagulopathy is granted as secondary to service-connected endometriosis and uterine fibroids.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, rendering the appeal moot.,The Veteran withdrew his appeals on multiple other issues.

The Veteran's penicillin allergy was aggravated during service, and his migraine headaches began during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome or an undiagnosed illness manifested by symptoms of chronic fatigue was denied as there is no evidence that the claimed conditions are related to her military service.

Service connection for fibromyalgia, malaria, and PTSD has been denied.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by current medical evidence or verified service records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic joint pain, bilateral ankle disabilities, elbow medial epicondylitis, shoulder degenerative arthritis, and wrist de Quervain's syndrome have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a qualifying chronic disability manifested by joint pain due to military service in Southwest Asia as his poly-joint pain has been attributed to diagnosed disabilities.,The Veteran was unable to establish current diagnoses for bilateral ankle disabilities, elbow medial epicondylitis, and wrist de Quervain's syndrome. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability of either ankle or wrists.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chronic fatigue syndrome and any related symptoms are attributable to his service-connected PTSD.,VA examinations are needed for the right foot gout, left foot gout, low back disorder, respiratory/lung disorder, and hypertension.