Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2007

The veteran's service connection claims for a skin condition, chronic fatigue and diarrhea due to undiagnosed illnesses were granted. He was also awarded an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from February 8, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and scheduling a VA medical examination to determine if the veteran's Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability and chronic fatigue syndrome were not incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of active disease or treatment related to either condition.

The veteran's CFS is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the evidence does not support a higher rating. The claim for PTSD remains pending due to incomplete verification of stressors.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that the veteran did not have these conditions related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension with nosebleeds, chronic fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness, and headaches due to an undiagnosed illness. The reasons provided were that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or a link between them and military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions as due to an undiagnosed illness are denied. The Board finds that the veteran did not serve in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Persian Gulf War, and therefore, the presumption of service connection based on undiagnosed illnesses does not apply.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder rash, chest rash, chronic fatigue syndrome, and joint pain as they were not related to service or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for his skin disorder, abnormal fluctuations in body weight, headaches, chronic fatigue, multiple joint pain, respiratory disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and cardiovascular disorder. The VA found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue, weight change, body aches, headaches, sleep disturbance, memory loss, and loss of coordination, claimed as related to an undiagnosed illness resulting from service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for chronic fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness and chronic right knee strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 10 percent assigned under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Video Conference Hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the earliest date possible.

The Board found that the veteran's multiple joint pains, memory loss, and stomach disorder are not related to his service or an undiagnosed illness. The conditions were diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic gastritis respectively.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 100% disability rating, effective from May 10, 1995, for service connection of fibromyalgia and TDIU. The earlier effective dates for these conditions have also been granted.

The veteran's IBS is presumed to have been incurred in service and he is granted a 10 percent rating for this condition. The veteran's bilateral pes planus with Morton's neuroma is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum allowed under VA regulations. His right shoulder disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his secondary service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the initial rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic fatigue syndrome.