The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness related to service in Southwest Asia, and therefore, the claim for a presumption of service connection for joint, respiratory, and gastrointestinal disorders based on exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War is denied. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for digestive and skin disorders, hearing loss, service connection for COPD and OSA, and service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not meet the criteria for a presumption of service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 as there is no objective indication that the Veteran has undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness related to service in Southwest Asia.
- Claimed conditions
- Joint disorders, Respiratory disorders, Gastrointestinal disorders
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23047430
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 23047430.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorders, including as due to exposure to contaminated waters at Camp Lejeune and as secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection are being reopened, and the Board is remanding several issues including gastrointestinal disorders, lumbar spine disorder, heart disorder, ED, sleep apnea, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders, including Barrett's disease, GERD, and hiatal hernia, are being remanded for further examination to determine their onset during service or as related to service-connected disabilities. The nature and etiology of the gastrointestinal disorders will also be evaluated.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bladder condition and gastrointestinal disorders are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service, specifically his exposure at Camp Lejeune.
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