The Board denied service connection for a systemic joint and muscle disability, including fibromyalgia and polyarthralgia, claimed as the result of exposure to Persian Gulf War environmental hazards. Service connection was also denied for diabetes mellitus, type 1, claimed as the result of exposure to Persian Gulf War environmental hazards.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability or diagnosed illness that could be attributed to service-connected disabilities and concluded that the Veteran did not have a systemic joint and muscle disability. The examiner also determined that the diabetes was unrelated to service and unrelated to any service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- systemic joint and muscle disability, diabetes mellitus, type 1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20072643
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,645 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20072643.
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 diabetes mellitus, type 1 and PTSD are both granted as service connected. The diabetes mellitus is considered a direct connection to service due to its onset during or within one year of service. The PTSD is found to be proximately due to the diabetes mellitus.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's asthma, diabetes mellitus, and mitral valve prolapse claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection is sought for asthma, diabetes mellitus, type 1, and mitral valve prolapse. The Veteran asserts that his asthma may be related to exposure to asbestos during service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 1, is found to be related to his active duty service and granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the propriety of severing service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 1 and for determining an appropriate effective date.
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