Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The December 2, 2023, request for Board review of the July 2023 rating decision denying service connection for 'Gulf War Unexplained Chronic Multi-Symptom Illness, Gulf war undiagnosed illness' was dismissed due to a prohibited concurrent election.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to errors in scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence does not support a link between his condition and military service. The claims for service connection for breathing difficulties, sleeping difficulties, and headaches are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, as well as housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability, left foot disability, and a disability due to an undiagnosed illness as the evidence did not support a finding of a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's service connection for asthma is granted due to presumed exposure to particulate matter during his active service in Southwest Asia. The other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and a disorder manifesting in muscle twitching, finding no competent or credible evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a cervical neck disability, fatigue as due to an undiagnosed illness, constant cough, mucus in the nose, itchy and irritated nose and throat (claimed as rhinitis) as due to an undiagnosed illness, constant cough, mucus in the nose, itchy and irritated nose and throat (claimed as sinusitis) as due to an undiagnosed illness, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety and depression.

The Board granted service connection for fatigue as an undiagnosed illness, finding it to be a qualifying chronic disability due to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and denied the claims for service connection for sinusitis, an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for urinary frequency, and evaluations in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues related to non-allergic rhinitis, PTSD, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, bilateral pes planus, and fibromyalgia were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a heart disability due to an undiagnosed illness and denied increased ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal for service connection for bilateral foot pain and dysfunctional uterine bleeding with dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea as due to an undiagnosed illness, previously rated as chronic gynecological problems.

The appeal is remanded to determine if the veteran's symptoms warrant a higher rating. The Board needs more medical evidence on the severity of individual symptoms.

The veteran was granted service connection for blurred vision disability but denied for pes planus, sleep apnea, asthma, avitaminosis, obesity, and right knee strain. The claims for carpal tunnel syndrome, neuropathy, Gulf War illnesses, left knee strain, and plantar fasciitis were remanded.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for CFS service connection was denied. The claim for gulf war syndrome/joint pain was remanded for further review due to new evidence.

The Board remanded all issues to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction for further development of evidence, including medical examinations.

The veteran's service connection for a cervical spine condition and fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness was granted. The veteran's rating for unspecified anxiety disorder was restored to 70 percent. Other issues were denied or remanded.

The veteran's service connection for respiratory symptoms due to an undiagnosed illness and sinusitis has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral sciatic nerve disorder, Gulf War syndrome, and vertigo due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including undiagnosed illness related to Gulf War service and sleep disturbances. However, it remanded decisions on joint pains, sleep apnea, fatigue, diabetes mellitus, tinea pedis, and TDIU.