Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for a right upper extremity and wrist pain disability, left upper extremity and wrist pain disability, right knee disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and respiratory disability are all denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need to consider recent legislation regarding presumptions for certain respiratory disorders due to burn pit exposures.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and an undiagnosed illness. The remaining issues of service connection for a disability manifested by sleep impairment (including sleep apnea and insomnia), right shoulder disability (supraspinatus tendon injury and rotator cuff injury), low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for toenail fungus was dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.,Service connection is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy, with the condition proximately due to service-connected thoracolumbar spondylosis status post fracture at T11.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts by the AOJ in obtaining medical records and inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for sleepless nights was granted. The petitions to reopen claims for other conditions were dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration of all evidence submitted since the last supplemental statement of the case.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hip disability and undiagnosed illness manifested by bilateral elbow joint pain.,The skin condition remains under review.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by abnormal weight loss.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including chronic diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and urgency with bowel movement, is considered an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI) due to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Service connection for this condition is granted.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The issue of service connection for respiratory difficulties as due to Gulf War syndrome has been withdrawn by the Veteran through his authorized representative.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, a functional gastrointestinal disorder, is granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for hernia (claimed as abdominal discomfort) as secondary to irritable bowel syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hip strain is granted service connection, while his sleep disorder, exposure to hazards claimed as undiagnosed illness, dysentery, gout, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, left knee tendonitis, PTSD, and TDIU claims are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for muscle spasms, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's disability began during his military service. Service connection was denied for a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI) due to lack of objective indications.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, and left elbow disabilities as they are not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI due to environmental exposures in Southwest Asia, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The issues of increased ratings for bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are also being remanded.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claim seeking revision of a July 1998 Rating Decision assigning a non-compensable initial rating effective January 23, 1998, for service-connected bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for nerve damage of the right leg, left leg, arthritis of the legs, diabetes mellitus, lymphoma, deviated septum, digestive disability, and hernia disability were all granted.

The Veteran's skin disability, diagnosed as prurigo nodularis, is related to her military service and has been granted service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral foot, hand, hip, sleep apnea, and GERD disabilities are related to her active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for folliculitis, tonsillectomy residuals, an undiagnosed illness, and Grave's disease due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability is granted. The claims for service connection for a skin disability and IBS are remanded.