Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that service connection can be granted for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disturbance due to sleep apnea, and fibromyalgia as due to undiagnosed illnesses. Headaches are not considered due to an undiagnosed illness.

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

The Board denied service connection for shaking hands and tremors, as well as other conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the veteran not responding to scheduled VA examinations and improper correspondence. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic residuals resulting from hepatitis B vaccinations were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The claim of entitlement to service connection for this condition was denied.

The Board denied service connection for disabilities including joint pain, memory loss, enlarged lungs, chronic fatigue, and blurred vision. The evidence did not support a finding of an undiagnosed illness or any other basis for service connection.

The veteran's dysthymic disorder with a somatoform disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome is rated at 70 percent, fibromyalgia at 20 percent, arachnoid cyst at 10 percent, and seborrheic psoriasis does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression and neurasthenia, or chronic fatigue syndrome, that was incurred in service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bowel impairment, bladder impairment, muscle atrophy, and chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to the veteran's service-connected hydrocephalus. The initial evaluations assigned are 50 percent each.