Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for tinea pedis with tinea cruris, as it did not cover more than 40% of his body or exposed areas. For other conditions, the preponderance of the evidence was against finding a direct relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition and granted service connection for Gulf War illness, manifested by non-allergic, irritant rhinitis. The Veteran's right knee condition is not considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service. For the Gulf War illness claim, the evidence supports that the Veteran has a chronic multi-symptom illness with an unidentified etiology, consistent with Gulf War Syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar degenerative facet changes, bilateral hip strain, and degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees. The Veteran's inability to conceive was also denied.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial 70 percent rating, effective July 3, 2019. The bilateral foot scar and tissue damage and undiagnosed illness and unexplained chronic-multi-symptom illness claims have been denied.

The Veteran's right foot arthritis is granted service connection, and his undiagnosed illness manifested by shortness of breath is also granted. The rating for the right foot arthritis is set at 10 percent.

The Veteran's joint pain, due to an undiagnosed illness, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of her joint pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and Gulf War syndrome were denied, and his claim for an effective date prior to September 29, 2010 for PTSD and schizotypal personality disorder was dismissed. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the threshold for reopening the previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and evaluations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including gout, low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle sprain, lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, gastrointestinal pain associated with Gulf War undiagnosed illness, and headaches associated with Gulf War undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's bilateral lateral epicondylitis, left foot acquired pes cavus and plantar fasciitis, granuloma of the lung, shortness of breath and dyspnea on exertion due to an undiagnosed illness, and bilateral hand disability (claimed as hand pain) are all granted service connection.,The Veteran's rash of the face, arms, hands, and chest, painful joints of the shoulders, hips, and knees, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for IBS, fibromyalgia, brain lesion, right side, interictal epileptiform electrical discharges, and an undiagnosed illness due to missing medical treatment records and inadequate 2017 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for dyspepsia and dysthymic disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,Service connection for sleep apnea was denied in an unappealed November 2012 rating decision, and new evidence received since then does not raise a reasonable probability of substantiating the claim. Service connection for an undiagnosed illness claimed to manifest as muscle aches, sleep disturbances, fatigue, moodiness, and sore joints has been reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to fatigue and sleep disturbances, a lumbar spine disorder, hypertension, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,No specific rating has been assigned as all issues have been remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sinus infections and rhinitis, as well as any respiratory condition including asthma, COPD, or shortness of breath due to undiagnosed illness, are not service-connected. The case is being sent back for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's fatigue and sleep disturbance, which may be related to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisystem illness.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, right ankle disability, and headache disability. The claims of service connection for chronic cough and acid reflux are remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet is dismissed due to pyramiding.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been granted. The Veteran served in the Southwest Asia theater and has a current diagnosis of IBS.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is remanded due to lack of an appropriate diagnosis or clear etiology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness, including due to undiagnosed illness, is remanded as the cause of his symptoms has not been determined.,Service connection for chronic frontal sinusitis is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its onset and relation to service.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's education and work experience, particularly during the period relevant to the TDIU claim. The appellant is asked to provide a detailed statement of the Veteran’s business activities and income from these activities in each year between 2008 and 2014.

The Board dismissed all appeals seeking service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, allergic rhinitis, anemia with vitamin D deficiency, and other medical issues. The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's flatfeet were aggravated by service and are considered secondary to his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's right hip disability is due to his service-connected flatfeet.

The Board has decided to remand all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal and unclear preferences regarding informal conferences. The RO is instructed to obtain VA treatment records from Little Rock VA Medical Center and update the Veteran’s VA treatment records.