Gulf War illness / chronic multisymptom — all decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and muscle pain and cramps in the calves due to an undiagnosed illness, as well as a higher rating for blepharitis.

The Board remands the case to obtain additional evidence and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet, but not for a low back disorder. The veteran's myofascial pain syndrome is related to his active duty service, while sleep apnea, GERD, and memory loss are not.

The veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal within the prescribed time period for each of the denied claims, resulting in the denial of his appeals as a matter of law.

The appeal is remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and Persian Gulf War Syndrome, but increased the rating for dysthymic disorder to 70 percent. The veteran was also granted a 40 percent evaluation for fibromyalgia.

The veteran's service connection claims for tinea versicolor and hypertension were granted, while the remaining conditions were denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, eczema, a knee disorder, right shoulder tendonitis, and joint stiffness due to undiagnosed illness. The appellant's PTSD was rated 70 percent effective February 20, 2004, with an additional increase to 100 percent as of December 31, 2007, for the migraine headache disability prior to June 9, 2005, and a non-compensable evaluation thereafter.

The veteran's claims for service connection for elevated cholesterol, a stomach disorder, shortness of breath (claimed as due to undiagnosed illness), and a bilateral foot disability were denied.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied service connection for a deviated septum, residuals of a head injury (including headaches), psychiatric disability, fatigue, sleep impairment, hair loss, muscle and joint pain, and skin disability. The veteran was also denied the opportunity to reopen his claim for a deviated septum but allowed him to reopen his claim for residuals of a head injury.

The Board restored the 10 percent rating for intermittent skin rash and granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, sleep disability, right foot disability, and sinus disability. The claim for an initial compensable rating for eczema was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, joint pain and weakness due to undiagnosed illness, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for duodenitis with duodenal ulcer and abdominal pain.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development and readjudication of the claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and joint pain due to undiagnosed illness were reopened, but the claim for residuals of fracture of the right thumb was denied. The claim for bilateral post-traumatic elbow epicondylitis was also denied.

The veteran's internal hemorrhoids, vasomotor rhinitis, and diastasis of the umbilicus muscles were rated at 0 percent. Service connection for breathing problems due to an undiagnosed illness was denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. The remaining claims were denied as there is no evidence of a causal link between the claimed conditions and service, or that they are due to an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, but new and material evidence was found to reopen the claim for a foot condition. The other claims remained denied.

The veteran's service-connected undiagnosed illness manifested by arthralgia, fatigue, and headaches is currently rated at 20 percent.