The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, to include as due to an undiagnosed Gulf War illness, and denied higher ratings for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD) and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).
The deciding factor: The most persuasive evidence did not support a current diagnosis for chronic fatigue syndrome or the presence of symptoms that qualified as an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to other conditions, and there was no evidence supporting a higher rating for the other conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) including functional abdominal pain syndrome with bloating and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD) and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25047382
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and denied higher ratings for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and lumbosacral strain. However, the Board granted initial 20 percent ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, and sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for allergic rhinitis and lumbosacral or cervical strain was dismissed due to untimeliness, while the other issues were remanded for further evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the exception of remanding certain issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and a rating in excess of 10 percent for a left ankle disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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