Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations has been confirmed, and he is presumed to have a qualifying chronic disability. The Board finds that his fatigue/chronic fatigue syndrome does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was granted a 40 percent rating effective June 10, 2009. The claim for higher ratings remains pending.

The Board is unclear on whether the appellant has a current disability manifested by fatigue, including chronic fatigue syndrome. The case is remanded for further examination and development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. The claims for earlier effective dates were also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed condition related to his service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and chronic fatigue syndrome, to include as due to exposure to environmental hazards are inextricably intertwined with his claim for Chapter 31 benefits. The Board is remanding the case to allow these issues to be developed and adjudicated together.

The Veteran's service-connected CFS is rated at 40 percent, effective from March 1, 2002. The Board has also granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of claim (November 2005).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a liver disability was denied, but his PTSD was granted and assigned an initial evaluation of 50 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple arthralgias, respiratory disorder, and heart disability have been denied. The issues of service connection for a respiratory disorder and heart disability are pending as they require additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and the VA examiner found no evidence to support this condition. The service-connected seizure disorder is not considered as causing or aggravating the claimed chronic fatigue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue, finding no evidence of a diagnosed disability and concluding that the symptoms were not due to undiagnosed illness or an unexplained condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for additional information and examination regarding the Veteran's claims, particularly those related to service connection under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, PTSD, and sleep apnea were denied. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's ulcer and chronic fatigue syndrome were not shown to be related to his military service, and the Board denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and further adjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and an undiagnosed illness manifested by chronic fatigue, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's period of active duty in Southwest Asia.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a sleep disorder, joint pain involving the knees and wrists, fatigue, headaches, neuropsychological symptoms, and PTSD. The evidence received since September 2002 does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a chronic disability or objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome and therefore service connection is not warranted.