Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of those related to PTSD and depressive disorder. The remaining conditions are either already established or not yet determined.

The Veteran does not have a lung disability or symptoms due to an undiagnosed illness that can be linked to his service, including his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability. The claims for left hand laceration residuals and neck pain (undiagnosed illness) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue and sleeplessness have been denied as these conditions are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental incapacity, as evidenced by multiple hospitalizations and inability to manage personal finances.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional examination to determine the extent of her service-connected disabilities' impact on her employability.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA aid and attendance/housebound examination. The claims for increased ratings will also be adjudicated.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability, back disability, or joint disability (other than as due to an undiagnosed illness) during service. The Veteran's tinnitus began after service and is not linked to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, an eye disorder claimed as the result of an undiagnosed illness, a sleep disorder claimed as the result of an undiagnosed illness, and hearing loss. The appeals are therefore remanded.

The Veteran's stomach disability, including symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and blood in stool, is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his service in the Gulf War. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for undiagnosed right and left knee joint pain, as well as bilateral hip degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's symptoms of knee and hip pain have been found to be due to a qualifying chronic disability related to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for upper and lower gastrointestinal disorders, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, and unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (including IBS), including as due to an undiagnosed illness, were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or any link between the Veteran's military service and his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, undiagnosed illness involving a skin rash, and tingling of the fingers. The Veteran's claims were not granted as there was no current disability found by VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, joint pain with fibromyalgia, chronic headaches, a disorder manifested by difficulty breathing (undiagnosed illness), and acid reflux (GERD) due to new evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and undiagnosed diarrhea are service connected due to their onset during service in the Gulf War Theater of Operations.

The Board has granted service connection for exercise-induced asthma and presumptive service connection for a skin disorder characterized by undiagnosed illness, both of which are deemed to have begun during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and blurred vision as due to an undiagnosed illness were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during his service or at any time thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher disability rating for his psychiatric disabilities has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed disability manifested by fatigue, hypertension, or dermatitis/eczema (claimed as skin irritation on the legs and arms). His headaches are service connected as tension headaches.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's current claim to include entitlement to service connection as due to an undiagnosed illness based on Gulf War service. The case is REMANDED for further development, including a respiratory VA examination and a Persian Gulf War examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's pulmonary disorder is related to his service in Southwest Asia.