Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including numbness and tingling of the extremities, chronic fatigue, frequent leg cramps, chest pain, a burning sensation of the tongue, rashes, and headaches, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examinations indicated no link between these conditions and mercury fillings received during active duty.

The veteran's claims for service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder, chronic fatigue, and memory loss have been denied as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his scar of the left foot, were denied increased ratings. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not granted increased ratings. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's scar of the left foot was not granted a compensable rating. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's headaches were not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's bilateral pes planus was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's sleep disorder was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's multiple joint pain was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's neurological disorder was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's chest pains were not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's memory loss was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's dizziness was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have all been reopened but are still denied.

The veteran's CFS is currently rated at 20 percent, effective June 30, 2003. The symptoms are nearly constant and restrict routine daily activities to less than 50-75% of the pre-illness level.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's claimed conditions to his military service or any service-connected disability, including alleged exposure to ionizing radiation. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's appeal was timely filed for his claims of service connection for chronic fatigue, various undiagnosed illnesses, and a mental disorder. The Board found that the August 1995 submission constituted a timely substantive appeal to the November 1994 rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and muscle and joint pain as due to an undiagnosed illness incurred in Southwest Asia. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of service connection for bladder impairment, muscle atrophy, and chronic fatigue syndrome, all secondary to her service-connected hydrocephalus.

The Board denied service connection for respiratory symptoms and chronic fatigue, finding that the veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated in service. The right wrist disability was also denied an increased rating.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including fatigue, PTSD, depressive disorder, memory loss, anxiety, anger, shortness of breath, and headaches. The appellant's service in the Southwest Asia theater did not result in any new or aggravated disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection for generalized arthritis of multiple joints and fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue were denied as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, cervical spine disability, and chronic sinusitis as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or sufficient evidence to link them to the veteran's active duty.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome/ fibromyalgia, Epstein-Barr syndrome, tropical disease or parasitic infection, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and immune disorder based on the medical evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that it was attributable to his drug use and depression, with no evidence indicating a possible manifestation of undiagnosed illness or any aspect of military service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied, as the evidence did not support a finding that his hearing loss is related to his military service.

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 service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no evidence of chronic disability related to service.

The appeal for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was withdrawn by the veteran's representative.

The appeal is remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction for additional development, including providing adequate VCAA notice.

The Board denied service connection for Achilles tendonitis and chronic fatigue syndrome, as there is no competent evidence of current disability.