The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal, skin, and headache disabilities are not related to his military service, including service in the Gulf War. The evidence does not support a finding of an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided by VA examiners indicate that the Veteran's gastrointestinal, skin, and headache disabilities are not related to his military service, including service in the Gulf War. The diagnoses provided (Crohn's disease, pityriasis rosea, erythema nodosum, and tension headaches) do not meet the criteria for an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness as defined by VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastrointestinal disability, Skin disability, Headache disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2018
- Citation
- 1806183
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1806183.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's headache disability is granted as service-connected. The left foot condition and lung cancer claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.
- Denied
The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits to a 5% rate effective November 1, 2016 was proper due to his incarceration for more than 60 days following conviction of a felony offense. The appeal is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 13, 2018 for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches. The Veteran's claim for a skin disability and increased rating for migraine headaches is being remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for asthma, low back injury (including right lower extremity radiculopathy), neck disability, headache disability, and right ankle disability.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.