Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for left hip and left ankle disabilities have been granted. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection for thyroid cancer, breast mass, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, hypertension, digestive disorder, respiratory condition, upper back/neck disability, migraine headaches, and others.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination provided in June 2014, which did not adequately assess the Veteran's respiratory issue and ignored his lay statements of exposure to burn pits. The examiner is asked to provide a more comprehensive opinion on whether the Veteran’s reported respiratory or breathing issues are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to additional development needed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gynecological disorder is dismissed as there are no remaining questions of law or fact involving this issue.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as chronic bronchitis due to an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence of current disability or a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, shin splints, shoulder disorders, frostbite, psychiatric conditions, traumatic brain injury, headaches, wrist, hip, ankle, knee, elbow, little finger, plantar fasciitis, joint pain, back pain, neck pain, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, skin disorder, and eye problems.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.

The appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as the Veteran's claim has been fully granted. The increased rating claim for undiagnosed illness manifested by psychiatric symptomatology remains unresolved.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected and is not caused or aggravated by her service-connected lymphedema or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).,Since June 5, 2015, the Veteran has a left leg disability rated at 20 percent. The right leg disability remains rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's undiagnosed illness is not rated in excess of 10 percent as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure to schedule VA examinations. The issues include cervical spine, right ankle, respiratory disability (undiagnosed illness), and left wrist cyst.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen her service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, claiming it as a presumptive illness and an undiagnosed illness. The evidence submitted since the last denial did not provide sufficient material evidence to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military noise exposure.,Service connection for an undiagnosed Gulf War illness manifested by IBS is also denied because the Veteran does not have or has never had any objective indications of such an illness.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The lung condition and heart condition have both been remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus with weight loss, numbness of both hands, or an undiagnosed illness manifested by a skin rash. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of current left lower extremity radiculopathy or right lower extremity radiculopathy, and the claim for these conditions is denied.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition due to undiagnosed illness is not granted as there are no objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability in his right shoulder.,The Veteran's current rating for insomnia remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder is related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his PTSD and joint pain conditions, as well as service connection for an undiagnosed illness. The rating for migraine headaches remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities is dismissed. The appeal of his claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and chest pain due to undiagnosed illness are granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but not for bilateral hearing loss or PTSD with major depressive disorder.,An effective date prior to September 25, 2007 for service connection of PTSD with major depressive disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection for heart disability, prostate disability, vision disorder (vision loss), and dental disability are all denied.