Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The Veteran's rhinitis without polyps and chronic sinusitis have been remanded for further evaluation. The issue of service connection for an undiagnosed illness involving the respiratory system has also been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various joint and musculoskeletal conditions, as well as a cognitive disorder and headaches. The Veteran's symptoms were found to be already compensated by the service-connected chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and an intestinal disorder are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations considering the PACT Act, which requires consideration of total potential exposure through all applicable deployments and the synergistic combined effect of toxic exposure risk activities. The issues will be re-adjudicated after these examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI) claimed as due to exposure to environmental hazards during the Gulf War. The Veteran's symptoms of fatigue were found to be related to other diagnosed conditions such as fibromyalgia and PTSD with insomnia.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings has been withdrawn and dismissed. The issues of unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, IVDS (neck), lumbar spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy remain on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have increased in severity within the year preceding May 19, 2018. A higher rating of 70 percent is granted.,PTSD symptoms include suicidal ideation, intermittent illogical speech, and difficulty establishing effective relationships.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal conditions have been granted based on chronic wear and tear in service.,Bilateral hearing loss was not established for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle and joint pain of the upper and lower extremities, but denied service connection for fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's tummy tuck scar is granted service connection, but her GERD and cesarean section are denied. The bilateral tubal ligation surgery resulted in permanent sterilization as the intended result, so she cannot be granted service connection for that procedure. Joint pain (claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness) and seborrheic dermatitis have been remanded.

The claims for service connection of various conditions are being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice and assistance prior to the April 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical nexus opinion regarding whether the Veteran's prostate disability is related to his service, specifically toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), an undiagnosed illness, and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to inadequate opinions in the February 2014 VA examination reports. The Veteran is presumed exposed to toxic exposure during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is granted as his reported in-service stressor of close enemy mortar attacks in Iraq is supported and related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.,The Veteran's cervical spine, headaches, and skin disability claims are denied as they have no known clinical basis and are not due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete and inadequate addendum opinions, as well as outstanding VA and private treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been granted. The claims for irritable bowel syndrome, neurological symptoms due to Gulf War Syndrome, and residuals of traumatic brain injury are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a higher rating of 50% from April 27, 2019 to October 21, 2019. Other conditions have been granted service connection with effective dates ranging from January 11, 2012 to October 21, 2019.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all pending claims and appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is advised to provide updated treatment records and undergo new VA examinations, including Gulf War and toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) examinations.