Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The appeal of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is dismissed.,The appeals of entitlement to service connection for skin condition, to include as due to Gulf War Syndrome, are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied, and the case is remanded for further development regarding his gastrointestinal condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle aches. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for skin conditions, fibromyalgia, and major depressive disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorders, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and chronic pain syndrome (claimed as Gulf War unexplained illness).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected headaches as due to an undiagnosed illness is being remanded. The Board notes that the effective date of this increased rating was August 8, 2016.,The Veteran's claims for TDIU and DEA prior to June 20, 2011 are also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including removal of tonsils, cholesterol condition, catherization of male organ, decreased vision in both eyes, right-elbow torn ligament status post-surgery, right-elbow scar with keloid, dental condition, left-ear drum disorder, perforation of the tympanic membrane, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, stomach condition with acid reflux (claimed as due to Gulf War), left ankle and right ankle degenerative arthritis, a disorder manifested by feeling tired with a lack of energy, vertigo, bilateral feet condition, right-heel bone spur, neck condition with limited mobility, sinus surgery with turbinate surgery, allergies, and breathing condition (claimed as due to smoke and fumes).

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted as secondary to service-connected ankle disabilities. The Veteran's muscle spasms disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis and fatigue, claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness and/or medically unexplained chronic multisystem illness. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a medical examination. The claims for increased ratings of chronic headaches, relapse fever/night sweats, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, residual scars (due to removal of swollen lymph nodes), multiple joint pain, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and blurred vision and twitching of the left eye are also being remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical strain and a skin condition due to an undiagnosed illness, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted as service connection due to in-service motor vehicle accident.,Service connection for fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness during active duty in Southwest Asia is granted. The Veteran has experienced continuous fatigue symptoms since service.,Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are denied, with the opinion that memory loss is more likely related to posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom respiratory illness, finding that the Veteran's symptoms met the criteria of a qualifying chronic disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, a back disability, and other conditions has been granted with an effective date of October 29, 2012. The appeal is denied for the remaining issues.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for various conditions, as he did not timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Veteran's undiagnosed illness manifested by right upper quadrant (RUQ)/abdominal pain and fatigue is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been granted service connection due to its presumptive nature based on his service in Southwest Asia.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied as the evidence does not support a diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, back disorder, bilateral leg disorder, right foot disorder, and stomach disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.