Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, chronic fatigue, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for major depression. The RO granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and assigned separate noncompensable disability ratings.

The veteran's claimed conditions of joint disease, Raynaud's Syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were not shown during service or within one year thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicide agents used in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome. The veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders are also considered to be related to his active duty.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, major depression, chronic fatigue with loss of stamina and sex drive, a skin disorder, left shoulder tendonitis, and left hip condition. The evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss remains unchanged.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, chronic diarrhea secondary to peptic ulcer disease, and joint pain related to the veteran's active duty. Service connection for chronic fatigue and memory loss was not established as these conditions are not due to undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome as a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness due to the veteran's Gulf War Service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a low back disability, diabetes mellitus (secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and a psychiatric disability. The VA found that there was no medical evidence establishing these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's migraine headaches and chronic fatigue are related to her service, with the latter being due to an undiagnosed illness. The veteran was granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for somatoform disorder and fungal infection of the feet, finding that these conditions did not begin during or as a result of active duty.

The Board finds that the veteran's joint pain, chronic fatigue, and sleep disorder are manifestations of a qualifying chronic disability as defined by VA regulations for Persian Gulf War veterans. These conditions have been present since the veteran returned from service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disorder is related to an injury sustained in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has denied both his request for an increased evaluation and his claim of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic fatigue with flu-like symptoms and a chronic gastrointestinal disability are causally related to his military service, specifically due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that as of April 14, 2000, the veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome warranted a 40% evaluation due to nearly constant symptoms restricting routine daily activities to less than 50 percent of the pre-illness level. A higher rating was denied for the period before April 14, 2000.

The veteran's tension headaches due to Gulf War service are rated at 30 percent effective from September 8, 1995. Service connection is granted for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset and progression during the veteran's active duty in the Gulf War.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome as incurred in active service due to exposure to the Persian Gulf.

The Board has determined that chronic fatigue syndrome is presumed to have been incurred during the veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operation during the Persian Gulf War, and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss disability were denied by the RO. The Board found that additional development was needed, but did not address these issues in detail.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board finds that the veteran's dysthymic disorder, chronic sleep disturbance (undiagnosed illness), and acneform rash with scars are all service-connected. The claim for chronic fatigue is denied.