Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome, and assigned a 20 percent rating for the veteran's low back strain.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and crusting scab, left nostril. The veteran is also seeking service connection for disability manifested by sleep disturbance, left and right lower extremity neurological disability, lumbar strain, and right ankle fracture.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), finding no competent medical evidence linking CFS to his service or his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for chronic fatigue syndrome and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status are being remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to the veteran's service-connected myofascial pain syndrome and sleep apnea, due to a lack of competent medical evidence supporting such a diagnosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and chronic fatigue syndrome, as these conditions were not shown to be related to his active duty or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for mechanical low back strain, chronic fatigue syndrome, and stuttering were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal or etiological relationship between any of these conditions and her military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue and multiple swollen joints, finding no evidence of these conditions during active duty or a link to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, cognitive disorder (memory loss), recurrent joint discomfort, tension headaches, and skin disorders, were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these disabilities to his period of active military service or the Persian Gulf War.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate disorder were denied. The Board found that hypothyroidism was not related to service.,Service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy with urinary problems (prostate disorder) was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have chronic fatigue syndrome and there is no evidence of its occurrence during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome with chronic infections, chills, a sore throat, flu-like symptoms, and dizziness claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness, left eye blepharitis with melanosis, thyroid disorder claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness, non-gonococcal urethritis claimed as blood in the urine and inability to hold urine, chronic hypertension, and conjunctivitis. As such, these claims are denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a medical opinion assessing his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome is of service origin and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD and fibromyalgia with associated chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that no new evidence was presented to warrant such a change.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found that none of the claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service, and no presumption of radiation exposure was applicable.

The Board denied service connection for sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue syndrome, and joint pain of the bilateral ankles, shoulders, wrists, and hands due to undiagnosed illness. The veteran's conditions are attributed to known clinical diagnoses (sleep apnea and multiple arthralgias) rather than service.

The veteran's PTSD with secondary major depression was granted a higher initial evaluation of 50 percent effective November 7, 2005. Service connection for an eye condition is not warranted.