Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome with acid reflux and undiagnosed illness due to Gulf War exposure are being remanded as the Board notes insufficient contemporaneous information to evaluate these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his hip and knee disabilities, Gulf War illness, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including fibromyalgia, lipomas, bilateral hand tremors, and an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has found that the Veteran's prostate condition and keloids are not related to his military service, but other conditions such as sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, cardiovascular signs and symptoms, acquired left eye condition, and fatigue remain under consideration due to their potential connection with service.

The previously-denied claims for lower back disability and bilateral eye disorder are reopened, but the other claims remain pending.,The Veteran's current eye disorder is related to her in-service exposure to blowing sand and use of Visine. A VA examination is needed to determine if it is due to Persian Gulf War service.,VA will obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran has bilateral knee disabilities, including a history of an acute injury during service.,A VA examination is required to assess whether the Veteran's current joint pain is related to her Persian Gulf War service. A medical opinion should be obtained regarding this issue.,The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if she has any objective manifestations of cold injuries from service, and a medical opinion should be provided on this matter.,A VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran has a current gynecological disorder related to her in-service treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. A medical opinion should be obtained regarding this issue.,The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if she currently suffers from chronic headaches that are related to service, including an in-service head injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation has been assigned.

Service connection is granted for left arm, left leg, right arm, and right leg pain due to undiagnosed illness.,Service connection is denied for a disorder manifested by high cholesterol and resulting in gallbladder disease.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for left knee DJD is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim, but remands it for further development including obtaining an opinion on whether his left knee DJD is related to his active service or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a Gulf War illness, left arm neurological condition, initial compensable ratings for left and right knee strains, and initial compensable rating for dermatitis due to additional evidence submitted by VA. The AOJ is instructed to provide supplemental statements of the case as necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue and fatigue as due to an undiagnosed illness, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.

Service connection is granted for irritable bowel syndrome. The issues of service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleeplessness (undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness), depression, and jaw disorder are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for pancreatic cancer and remanded the issue of service connection for a disability manifested by chronic fatigue, headaches, and joint pain (undiagnosed Gulf War illness).

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of residuals of a right knee injury and fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness.

The appeal for service connection for low back pain is dismissed.,A higher initial (compensable) disability rating for the service-connected undiagnosed illness manifested by headaches from November 9, 2001 to September 4, 2009 is denied; a higher initial rating of 30 percent, but not higher, for the period from September 4, 2009, is granted.,For the period from May 25, 2013, a separate rating of 20 percent for the service-connected undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue and muscle twitching is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for nervous condition (claimed as depression), pulmonary condition, erectile dysfunction, respiratory problems, and migraines have been denied.,New evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of service connection for nervous condition (claimed as depression) and pulmonary condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues include determining whether new evidence was received to reopen a claim, as well as evaluating various conditions such as tinnitus, rotator cuff disorders, arthritis, Gulf War syndrome, joint pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory disorder, fatigue, skin disorder, knee tendonitis, ankle disorders, and others. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded to allow for further review and examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for breathing condition, sleep apnea, and various finger joint conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that would warrant service connection.,Service connection was not granted because the VA examiner found no current diagnosis of any respiratory condition and determined that the Veteran’s symptoms were related to aging and physical deconditioning. The Veteran's sleep apnea was also attributed to obesity, which developed post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or chronic fatigue syndrome, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.,For the joint condition (claimed as Gulf War Illness) and muscle condition (claimed as due to Gulf War Illness), an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's original claim did not mention PTSD, but he indicated stress related to Gulf War service. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at December 11, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The cases of right ankle disability, skin rash (undiagnosed illness), and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.