Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's bronchitis was not incurred in service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's service connection claims for migraines, hiatal hernia, lumbosacral disc disease, undiagnosed systemic disease (undiagnosed illness), ITP, right index finger fracture, and lymph node biopsy scars have been granted. The disability evaluations are as follows: 30 percent for migraines, 10 percent for hiatal hernia, 10 percent for lumbosacral disc disease, 60 percent for undiagnosed systemic disease (undiagnosed illness) from February 1, 2005, and 100 percent for undiagnosed systemic disease (undiagnosed illness) from January 28, 2008. The right index finger fracture is noncompensable, the lymph node biopsy scars are noncompensable, and ITP remains at a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic fatigue and cardiovascular problems are related to his Gulf War service, but the specific theory of connection (presumptive, secondary, aggravation, new-and-material evidence) is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression, anxiety, a sleep disorder, diarrhea, and memory loss as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The other conditions are not found to be related to active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions based on lack of evidence of in-service occurrence or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a thyroid disorder, headaches, memory loss, and hypertension to include as due to an undiagnosed illness. The issues of service connection for an upper respiratory condition, immune system deficiency, allergic reaction secondary to an immune system deficiency, and skin disability have also been denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have chronic fatigue syndrome and denied service connection for fatigue due to undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence to support a higher initial disability rating for the veteran's undiagnosed illness, as it did not meet the criteria for an episodic condition requiring continuous medication.

The veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to ambiguity in his diagnosis and the need for further medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, hip, and left shoulder disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses incurred during active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for VCAA-compliant notification and VA compensation examination reports.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, right ear was reopened and the claim is denied.,The medical evidence does not establish a current disability related to viral gastroenteritis (claimed as a stomach disorder).,The determination that the veteran's tinea corporis resolved without residuals does not establish any fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection, and does not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,There is no provision of the laws governing veterans' benefits which authorizes a grant of service connection to the veteran for his child's toe deformity on the basis of exposure to chemicals in Southeast Asia.,The medical determination that the veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome does not establish any fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection, and does not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,There is no provision of the laws governing veterans' benefits which authorizes a grant of service connection to the veteran for an immune system disorder.,The absence of medical evidence of any chronic qualifying disability or undiagnosed disorder does not establish any fact necessary to substantiate a claim for service connection, and does not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,Medical evidence obtained which demonstrates assignment of current diagnoses of PTSD, major depression, and psychosis by VA examiners and providers is new, since such evidence was not of record at the time of the prior final denial and is material, since it establishes previously unestablished facts necessary for adjudication of claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain, muscle pain, fatigue disorder, and depression and memory loss due to undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the veteran's period of active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, headaches, neurologic signs and symptoms, respiratory problems, abnormal weight loss, pain in the ankles, right hip disability, and neck pain, have been denied as they are not related to active duty service or an undiagnosed illness.

The appellant's claims for chronic fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, and joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War were denied.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, memory loss, and gastrointestinal problems other than diarrhea as claimed due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability. The claims were reopened on new evidence but the conditions could not be clinically correlated to a specific diagnosis.

The veteran's flu-like symptoms due to an undiagnosed illness are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia and granted it. The claims for hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae, chronic rash/rosacea, and a periumbilical scar have been addressed.,Pseudofolliculitis barbae and chronic rash/rosacea were found to be incurred in service.