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
- Not verified here — check the original 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1806183.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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