Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including OSA, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Gulf War Syndrome, gastrointestinal disorder, skin disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The decision found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's sinus bradycardia, a MUCMI, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for sleep apnea (claimed as chronic fatigue syndrome) is granted.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis are presumed related to his active-duty service.,The Veteran's neck disability, bilateral pes planus, sleep apnea, chronic hypersomnolence, chronic fatigue, chronic diarrhea, chronic memory loss, and mood disorder (due to an undiagnosed illness) may be due to exposure to environmental hazards during his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that there is no evidence to support his assertions of a current disability and nexus with service. The Veteran's urinary condition was found not to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's joint pain, including his back pain. The Veteran is seeking service connection for joint pain related to his active duty in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and undiagnosed illness or MUCMI is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The appeals to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are dismissed. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened, but the Veteran's tinnitus and headaches remain in dispute.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ADHD and an undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue (claimed as CFS) due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The Veteran's ADHD is considered part of his service-connected depressive disorder, while his fatigue symptoms are attributed to his already service-connected depression.

The Veteran's hypertension was rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 7101. The claim for service connection for Gulf War unexplained illness (to include symptoms of fatigue) as due to an undiagnosed illness was denied because there was no evidence that the Veteran had a diagnosed illness without conclusive pathophysiology or etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for undiagnosed Gulf War Illness manifested by a muscle condition, joint condition due to Gulf War (claimed as joints and muscle condition due to gulf war), skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle and joint pain, as well as headaches that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Chron's disease.

The Veteran's IBS and chronic fatigue due to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations have been granted service connection.,A rating for each condition has not yet been assigned.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, muscle and joint pain (undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness), and skin disability due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for follicular infection on the head and chest. The claims for service connection for other conditions are remanded due to lack of evidence showing an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his symptoms are related to Gulf War service. His right hip disability claim is also remanded as it requires updated evidence of current severity.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left ankle disability, presumed due to undiagnosed illness, is denied.,The Veteran's right elbow disability, presumed due to undiagnosed illness, is denied.,The Veteran's left elbow disability, presumed due to undiagnosed illness, is denied.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism, presumed due to undiagnosed illness, is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and clarification of medical opinions regarding the Veteran's symptoms, including blisters, swelling and bruising of the legs, chronic joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, and difficulty breathing. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a separate memory loss condition and denied service connection for it. The issues of service connection for skin condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and Gulf War Illness including chronic fatigue are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal to revise the October 2017 rating decision that granted an effective date of July 21, 2014, for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran argued that he should have been awarded TDIU earlier based on his service-connected conditions and inability to work.

The Veteran's undiagnosed illness, including an enlarged thyroid, fatigue, syncope, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, and headaches associated with exposure to Persian Gulf environmental exposure, has been granted service connection.