Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for left thigh pain and dizziness due to undiagnosed illness during the Persian Gulf War are granted. The veteran is also awarded initial compensable ratings for his headaches, abdominal muscle strain, and right forearm scar.

The veteran's hair loss is not considered due to an undiagnosed illness and is not related to his service. The increased ratings for instability of the left knee and degenerative joint disease of the left knee are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's IBS is service-connected, with a rating of 10 percent. The issue regarding memory problems remains pending.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and finds that it is presumed to have been incurred during active service. The low back pain, visual impairment, and streptococcal infection are also found to be due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss, to include due to an undiagnosed illness. The decision is based on the reopening of the claim on new evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of stressors and VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's fatigue, while debilitating, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6354 and denied his claim for an increased evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities in service or within one year post-service, with the exception of a diagnosis of dry eyes and refractive error in November 1997.

The Board found no competent evidence of a current disorder related to joint pain or an undiagnosed illness, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and shortness of breath have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support these conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by nausea and vomiting is denied as there are no objective indications of chronic disability resulting from an illness or combination of illnesses.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected undiagnosed illness that is most closely analogous to fibromyalgia is being remanded due to a discrepancy between the results of his September 2003 VA examination and his testimony at a RO hearing in September 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a disability manifested by multiple joint pain, peripheral neuropathy, or colon disorder associated with service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection is denied for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of joint pain, chronic fatigue, and sleeplessness, all claimed as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not service-connected, but his irritable bowel syndrome and joint pain are considered presumptively related to Gulf War service.,Service connection for fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness is denied as there is no medical evidence of such a condition.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder and headache disorder in July 2002. The veteran submitted new evidence suggesting a possible link to the Gulf War environment, which could potentially reopen his claims.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that his undiagnosed illness, chronic eczema, and low back pain did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations.

Service connection granted for upper back pain, low back pain, and painful hands due to an undiagnosed illness.,Service connection denied for residuals of a left foot sprain, right foot strain, fallen arches, and torticollis with cervical-dorsal myositis.