Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking fibromyalgia or any disability to service, including service in the Persian Gulf. The veteran's symptoms were attributed to various conditions and injuries during his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and neurological, respiratory, eye, and gum disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness during the Persian Gulf War period.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder and an undiagnosed illness, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not manifest during active service or due to exposure in Southwest Asia. The preponderance of evidence indicated that the current conditions were related to known clinical diagnoses.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a respiratory disorder and an increased rating for his right foot disability, finding that he did not have a diagnosed respiratory condition due to service in the Gulf War and that his current right foot impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a chronic respiratory disorder, including due to an undiagnosed illness, related to his military service and denies service connection for such condition.

The veteran's service connection claim for joint and muscle pain due to undiagnosed illness during his Persian Gulf War service is granted.

The RO reduced the veteran's disability rating for headaches from 30 percent to noncompensable and severed service connection for memory loss. The veteran is not entitled to restoration of a 30 percent disability rating for headaches, but service connection for memory loss was properly severed.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a left heel fracture, major depressive disorder and PTSD, foot fungus, gastrointestinal disorder due to an undiagnosed illness, sleeplessness due to an undiagnosed illness, headaches due to an undiagnosed illness, and hair loss and acne lesions of the face due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and a cardiac disorder, finding that neither condition was incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic-asthmatic bronchitis/restrictive defect, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service directly or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory and stomach disabilities, both claimed as due to undiagnosed illnesses. The Board found that the veteran's conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted since the September 1999 decision, including his service records in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War. The veteran asserts that he suffers from symptoms of an undiagnosed illness and asthmatic bronchitis due to exposure to fires and Sarin gas.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection as it resulted from his service in the Persian Gulf. The claims for arthritis, tension headaches, rash, and acute febrile illness were denied due to lack of evidence supporting a direct link to service.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, short-term memory loss as an undiagnosed illness, and joint and bone pain as an undiagnosed illness. Service connection was denied for lung condition with shortness of breath and fatigue.

The veteran's claims for hair loss, hot flashes/night sweats, increased weight, and gynecological disability due to an undiagnosed illness were denied as they are not related to service or the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied service connection for periodontal disease and skin rash, fatigue, and memory loss due to an undiagnosed illness. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a current disability or a link to his military service.

The Board has reviewed all submitted evidence since the final denial of service connection for dizziness, bilateral foot disability, and left shoulder disability. No new and material evidence was provided to support reopening these claims.

The appellant has withdrawn their appeal before the Board, thus the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, a skin disorder, and hypertension. The psychiatric disorder is considered to be a panic disorder incurred during active service.

The veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, fatigue and multiple joint pain (arthralgia), and headaches are all found to be related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.