Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2023

The Veteran's initial rating for an undiagnosed illness manifested by throat pain has been granted. Service connection for heartburn is also granted. The cases of sleep apnea, bilateral eye disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all remanded.

The Veteran's undiagnosed illness characterized by increased urinary frequency is granted service connection, and a disability rating of 10 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.,All other claims, including those for back disability, left ear hearing loss, depression (secondary to service-connected disabilities), left hand and right hand disabilities, sleep apnea (undiagnosed illness and/or medically unexplained chronic multi symptom illness due to exposure to environmental hazards during the Persian Gulf War) and secondary to service-connected disabilities, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability, are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's Gulf War Syndrome claim should be remanded for additional development. The parties are also informed of their right to a hearing and representation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic bilateral hand numbness, tingling, and pain are granted due to a qualifying undiagnosed illness under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1117.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome due to an undiagnosed illness, respiratory problems including shortness of breath due to an undiagnosed illness, and chronic pain due to an undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's symptoms were noted during service and continued after separation from service.

The Veteran's tension headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection for muscle pain due to an undiagnosed illness is denied, with no current evidence of such a condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except eye problems, tinnitus, and stomach problems (undiagnosed or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom Gulf War illness) has been dismissed. The claim of service connection for left wrist disability, right wrist disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities. However, the appeal is remanded for further action on claims for osteopenia, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability, a left shoulder disability, and a right knee disability.,Service connection is established for tinnitus due to its presumptive association with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Gulf War Syndrome, bilateral shoulder disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hip disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for skin disability and remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability and muscle and joint pain. The Veteran's skin disability is not related to his military service, while the lumbar spine and muscle and joint pain issues require further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for vision loss, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder (arthritis to the entire joint system), obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension (claimed as Gulf War Syndrome), erectile dysfunction, and skin disorder due to new evidence added to his claims file.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiners regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on causation, aggravation, obesity, and whether a service-connected disability caused or aggravated obesity.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of shrapnel in the legs, a gall bladder condition related to Gulf War Syndrome, and a stomach and gastrointestinal disorder including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis in the bilateral fingers, other than right little finger and for an undiagnosed illness (claimed as fatigue). Service connection was also denied for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral shoulders. The Veteran's claims were decided on a direct basis without any presumption or secondary relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for an undiagnosed illness due to burn pit exposure is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of a head injury, left elbow disorder, left knee disorder, respiratory disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including as due to an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI, is remanded. The Board finds the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disorder, migraine headache disorder, Gulf War Syndrome or undiagnosed illness (chronic fatigue syndrome), and chronic fatigue syndrome due to incomplete medical opinions. The AOJ must obtain a new addendum from a qualified examiner addressing these issues.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder strain, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal for a recurrent gastrointestinal disability to include GERD, diverticulitis, colon polyps, and an undiagnosed illness claimed as the result of exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for depression, memory loss, and social anxiety are denied as there is no evidence of a separate psychiatric disorder from his service-connected PTSD.,The claim for an undiagnosed illness (claimed as Gulf War syndrome) is denied due to lack of objective indications of a chronic disability.