The Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations from December 1990 to May 1991 is considered qualifying. The Board finds that the Veteran's joint pain, which has been present for more than six consecutive months and meets criteria for a presumptive service connection due to an undiagnosed illness.
The deciding factor: The Veteran served in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War and his joint pain is considered a presumptively service-connected undiagnosed illness.
- Claimed conditions
- joint pain in ankles, joint pain in elbows, joint pain in hands, joint pain in wrists, joint pain in knees, joint pain in hips, joint pain in shoulders
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 16, 2018
- Citation
- 1810345
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 1810345.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral shin splints is denied.,Service connection for plantar fascitis or a bilateral foot condition is remanded.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for joint pain in the elbows is remanded.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain in his hips and knees is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and etiological opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including another VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current ankle and elbow disabilities are related to his active service. The Veteran contends that his joint pain is due to an undiagnosed illness or a chronic multisymptom illness, but there is no evidence of such in the record.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is not well-grounded.,There is no evidence linking the veteran's current chronic fatigue syndrome to his military service or reported continuity of post-service symptomatology.,The veteran's allegation of hearing loss is not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,Although the veteran has reported asbestos exposure in service, there is no medical evidence of asbestosis or any asbestos-related disorder.,Respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,The veteran's claim for flu-like symptoms involving the sinuses is not well-grounded.,Muscle aches in thighs and lower legs are not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for muscle aches resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,Eye symptoms are not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for eye symptoms resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,Stomach symptoms are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Generalized joint pain and shaking are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Fatigue as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness is plausible, but the veteran has submitted some evidence supporting this claim.,The veteran's allegation of hearing loss related to an undiagnosed illness is not well-grounded.,Joint pain in ankles and hips are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Joint pain in thumbs, fingers of both hands, wrists, elbows are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.
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