Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for memory loss and chronic fatigue due to undiagnosed illnesses, but granted service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy as it is presumed to have started during active service.

The Board found that the veteran's asthma cannot be service-connected due to a known clinical diagnosis. The claims for chronic undiagnosed illnesses were denied as there was no evidence of such conditions during or after service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that scleroderma was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the disability manifested by painful joints and fatigue and/or nausea is not related to service or undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's chronic fatigue disability is presumed to be related to his service in the Gulf War. The right hip disability has not been attributed to any specific injury or condition during service.,Service connection for the right hip disability is granted on a direct basis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or an undiagnosed illness manifested by mood swings, insomnia, memory loss, fatigue, or nervousness as a result of his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development due to missing VA treatment records from 1993-1995, which may affect the veteran's cause of death claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for generalized joint pain, tremor of the hands and tingling and numbness of both thighs, and mitral valve prolapse. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left elbow disabilities, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to military service.

The veteran's hypothyroidism is currently rated at 30 percent, and his arthralgias and myalgias are rated at 10 percent. Both conditions have been granted.

The VA has determined that the veteran's undiagnosed illnesses, manifested by fatigue and headaches and nausea, do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent under the applicable schedular criteria.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bleeding in the stomach, subdural hematoma (claimed as hematosis), and wrist, ankle, neck, elbow, and knee disorders were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen claims for fatigue and headaches.

The Board has vacated the previous denial of service connection for a low back disorder due to an incomplete evidentiary record. The veteran's carotidynia and variously diagnosed respiratory disorders are not shown to be related to his military service, while his low back disorder is not shown to have been manifested in service or related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a back disability, sinusitis (claimed as due to undiagnosed illness), fibromyositis (claimed as due to undiagnosed illness), thyroid disorder, and skin disorder. The appeals are granted.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including cardiovascular disease due to undiagnosed illness and rhinitis. The effective date of the increased rating for residuals of tonsillectomy was not changed.

The Board denied service connection for various undiagnosed illnesses and memory loss and insomnia, finding no evidence linking the veteran's symptoms to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for undiagnosed illness causing head shaking, but granted service connection for essential tremor. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain was remanded due to his failure to report for a VA examination.

The Board has found the veteran's PTSD is service-connected. The issue of service connection for an undiagnosed illness related to service in Southwest Asia remains pending and requires further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a sleep study report and an addendum from the VA examiner. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or other claimed conditions, and the VA did not find any basis for granting service connection.

The Board has ordered additional examinations and development due to the lack of recent VA examination reports, which are necessary for a proper evaluation of the veteran's claims.