Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The veteran's service connection claims for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disability, and left leg disability are denied. Service connection is granted for a right index finger scar.

The veteran's claim for service connection for undiagnosed illnesses as due to Persian Gulf War syndrome is denied because he did not serve in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. The Board also notes that his claim for Lyme disease cannot be granted under current law.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected anxiety features of an undiagnosed illness, effective from when the claim was filed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and arthralgia/tendonitis of multiple joints, finding that any in-service complaints were not chronic and resolved without residual disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including post traumatic stress disorder and depressive disorder with psychotic features, as well as for disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The reasons are not provided in this text.

The Board has received notification from the appellant that they wish to withdraw their appeal, including all issues listed on the front cover of this decision.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected undiagnosed illness has been manifested by subjective complaints of episodes of vomiting and diarrhea, headaches, fever, memory loss and fatigue; however, clinical or objective evidence did not show impairment analogous to moderate irritable colon syndrome, migraine headaches with prostrating attacks, or disability analogous to mild symptoms of mental disability with occupational and/or social impairment. The veteran's service-connected undiagnosed illness is currently rated 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case due to VCAA compliance issues and review of new evidence. The veteran will be afforded VA examinations and his claim for service connection on reopened grounds will be reviewed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee condition, sinusitis, photophobia, and chest pain with respiratory changes due to an undiagnosed illness have been denied as there is no evidence of current disability or disease in service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of low back disorder, bronchitis, skin disorder as an undiagnosed illness, and joint pain of right elbow, left knee, and bilateral wrists due to an undiagnosed illness. The appeals were not timely filed.

The veteran's constipation and diarrhea are considered chronic disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses, but service connection for these conditions is not granted on a direct basis. The veteran's sleep disability cannot be linked to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board finds that the veteran's pre-existing low back disability manifested by lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease was aggravated by service. The veteran is not shown to have a hip or right leg disability due to an injury or disease in service, and his memory loss is presumed to be due to an undiagnosed illness incurred during service.

The Board finds that the veteran has PTSD and an undiagnosed illness, to include fever, malaise, muscle pain, loss of energy, lack of stamina, cough with shortness of breath, chest pain, and swollen glands of the neck. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The veteran has muscle aches/joint pain of both knees, both ankles, and both wrists due to an undiagnosed illness; and a pre-existing right knee disability increased in severity due to an undiagnosed illness. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found no legal basis for service connection of an undiagnosed illness due to lack of Southwest Asia service. The veteran's low back and neck disorders are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder, a skin disorder as a manifestation of undiagnosed illness, and residuals of frostbite. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome as a result of undiagnosed illness, but denied service connection for antibody titer positive for histoplasmosis, microsporida, and Epstein Barr virus.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea and cardiovascular disorders, were denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 (service connection for undiagnosed illnesses).

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for respiratory disability, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, finding no competent evidence of a nexus between her current condition and her period of service.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now remanded for a pulmonary examination and further review.