Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom decisions — 2023

The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms, which have not been attributed to a known clinical diagnosis and are of a compensable degree, meet the criteria for service connection under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a maximum 30 percent rating for his undiagnosed illness manifested by diarrhea has been granted. The issue of entitlement to a separate disability rating for impairment of sphincter control associated with an undiagnosed illness is remanded, as well as the claims for TDIU and SMC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his knee, elbow, fatigue (undiagnosed illness), squamous cell cancer of the skin, and sleep disturbances.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential Gulf War exposure, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if his symptoms are related to active service.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate since August 10, 2017 due to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability. Prior to this date, SMC was denied as his other service-connected disabilities did not combine to reach a rating of 60 percent.

The appeal is dismissed as to the claims of service connection for PTSD, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and a deviated septum. The appeals are remanded for further development on the remaining issues.

The claim for an undiagnosed chronic multisymptom illness (claimed as gastrointestinal condition) is dismissed. The TBI claim has been reopened and remanded, while the Crohn's disease and small intestine resection claims are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's fatigue and other diagnosed conditions. The case will be returned for further development.