Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for undiagnosed illnesses manifested by right and left shoulder pain, as well as right and left hip pain have been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, muscle pain disability, and gastrointestinal disability due to presumed exposure at a burn pit during service. The Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to preclude substantially gainful employment for the period prior to June 21, 2022. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's hearing loss, headaches, unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and skin disorder are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for plantar fasciitis of the left foot is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic strain of the cervical spine is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to the need for a new VA opinion regarding the relationship between her tinnitus and her service-connected cervical spine disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for Gulf War illness, CFS, and metabolic syndrome are all remanded due to the need for additional development including verification of periods of active duty and examination by a medical professional.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded due to the need for a new VA opinion regarding the relationship between her symptoms and any diagnosed conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for metabolic syndrome is remanded due to the need for a new VA opinion regarding the relationship between her symptoms and any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA medical records and a need for further development, including potential new examinations or opinions.

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.

The Veteran's skin rash is granted service connection as a MUCMI due to his Persian Gulf War service. The claims for osteoarthritis and undiagnosed illness or MUCMI (fibromyalgia/CFS) are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Gulf War illness or an undiagnosed illness due to service in Southwest Asia, as well as his claim for a higher rating for SMC. The initial rating for OSA with COPD remains remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional diagnostic testing and a comprehensive medical opinion.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, claimed as Gulf War syndrome, is granted service connection. The issues of service connection for migraine headaches and a right shoulder disability are remanded.

The appeal for TDIU is dismissed. The claim of service connection for asthma has been reopened and granted. Service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to bilateral flatfoot with degenerative arthritis is granted. The issue of joint pain (undiagnosed illness) needs further evaluation, including consideration of upper extremity disabilities.