The Veteran's service connection claim for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is granted on a presumptive basis. The initial rating of 60 percent for residuals of left paramedian lower pons (stroke) with urinary incontinence and benign prostatic hypertrophy is granted, effective May 29, 2014. An initial 30 percent rating for multiple status-post cysts excisions scars is granted, subject to the law and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is also granted an initial 10 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability (CFS) that manifested during service or within the required period and cannot be attributed to any known clinical diagnosis, warranting presumptive service connection under VA regulations for Persian Gulf War veterans.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Residuals of left paramedian lower pons (stroke) with urinary incontinence and benign prostatic hypertrophy, Allergic rhinitis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- January 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20000266
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 622 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20000266.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to February 5, 2024, for a 10 percent evaluation of allergic rhinitis was denied. The Veteran also appealed for a higher rating for his allergic rhinitis and this was denied as well.,The Veteran's PTSD with TBI claim is remanded due to inadequate medical examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for further development. The Veteran contends his allergic rhinitis began during service, but VA medical opinions have found no link between his current condition and service.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of allergic rhinitis. Service connection is granted for a skin disorder (Pseudofolliculitis barbae) and denied for a chronic cervical spine disorder.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Dermatitis were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's CFS did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his symptoms restricted routine daily activities to less than 50 percent of the pre-illness level. For Chronic Dermatitis, the Board determined that topical therapy was sufficient without requiring systemic therapy.
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