Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection on a direct basis or due to an undiagnosed illness were denied as there is no competent medical evidence establishing the existence of any claimed conditions. The claim for increased rating for tension headaches was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and undiagnosed illness-related disabilities, are not well-grounded. The claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes is also denied.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are not well grounded. The claim for recurrent left ankle sprain is well grounded, but further development is needed to determine if service connection can be established. Claims for sinus disorder and joint/muscle pain as due to an undiagnosed illness are not well grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's joint pain is attributable to known clinical diagnoses including fibromyalgia syndrome, right-sided rotator cuff syndrome and left-sided trochanteric bursitis with carpal tunnel syndrome. The claim of service connection for undiagnosed illness following service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Persian Gulf War was granted. However, the initial compensable evaluation for residuals of a laceration of the right ring finger was denied.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues due to inadequate substantive appeal.

The veteran's claims for various disabilities, including those related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, have been denied as there is no evidence of current disability or chronicity that can be attributed to any undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or thoracic back pain, and thus his claims for service connection are not well-grounded.

The Board denied service connection for undiagnosed illnesses manifested by headaches, neuropsychological signs or symptoms including memory loss, fatigue, and sleep problems, joint pain, flu-like symptoms, sinusitis, and skin rash. The decision is considered final as the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and an undiagnosed illness manifested by a skin condition, finding the claims not well-grounded.

The Board denied service connection for chest pain and internal bleeding as chronic disabilities resulting from an undiagnosed illness, finding that the evidence did not support a well-grounded claim.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board found no competent evidence showing a nexus between the veteran's claimed conditions and his active service, leading to denial of all claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tiredness and fatigue symptoms, as well as a rash, resulting from an undiagnosed illness have been granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no medical evidence linking his current conditions to his active service or chemical exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for headaches, fatigue, low back disorder, right knee disorder, epididymitis, and sinusitis due to an undiagnosed illness are not well grounded as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or post-service. The veteran's current symptoms were attributed to his pre-existing cervical strain.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for severe stress due to an undiagnosed illness, finding that there was no well-grounded claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue as a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness due to Gulf War service is denied. The evidence does not support the conclusion that his current fatigue is related to an undiagnosed illness, and it is attributed to known conditions such as sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and those related to undiagnosed illnesses from service in the Southwest Asian theater, are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of any of these conditions or establish their relationship to service.

The Board has found service connection for Eustachian tube disorder of the right ear, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and an undiagnosed illness manifested by an inability to concentrate. The appellant's current hearing loss is not considered a disability under VA criteria.