Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for depression with anxiety, short term memory loss, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to an undiagnosed illness. The claim for initial compensable rating for hepatitis B is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and Social Security Administration records. The appellant is also to be afforded VA examinations to determine whether his chronic fatigue syndrome and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastrointestinal disorder, skin disorder, and respiratory disorder due to lack of a qualifying disability under the provisions for undiagnosed illnesses (UI).

The veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations. The issues of service connection for PTSD and chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, memory loss, blurred vision, joint aches, insomnia, and depression are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's knee pain and chronic fatigue are related to his service in the Persian Gulf War, including considering the criteria for undiagnosed illnesses.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed organic heart disorder or chronic fatigue syndrome, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The RO granted service connection for arthralgia of the right knee, left knee, and post-traumatic bicipital tendonitis of the left shoulder but did not assign any disability ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosed disability and noting that his symptoms were attributed to other conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher evaluation for her chronic fatigue syndrome. The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date is denied, as there was no prior formal or informal claim within one year of her April 1, 1994 claim. The claim for a higher evaluation remains pending.

The veteran's service connection claim for a disorder manifested by chronic fatigue, tension headaches, and multiple joints and muscle aching due to an undiagnosed illness is granted. The claim was based on the presumption of service connection for an undiagnosed illness related to service in Southwest Asia.

The veteran's CFS, including fatigue, memory impairment, pain and numbness in the arms, and weakness and numbness of the lower extremities are service-connected. The claim for separate disabilities from undiagnosed illness is moot.

The veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and the RO has granted service connection for this condition. The other claims are pending further development.