Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The issues of service connection for various other conditions due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disabilities have also been addressed.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have been granted, with the presumption of exposure to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability due to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including chronic fatigue and a hormonal disorder other than hypogonadism. The claims of service connection for psychiatric disorders (including PTSD and anxiety), sleep apnea, hypertension, heart disorder, back disorder, and diabetes are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left patellar femoral syndrome with thigh atrophy was denied as the condition did not meet criteria for an increased rating.,Service connection for generalized nerve pain (claimed as fibromyalgia) and chronic fatigue syndrome (claimed as fibromyalgia) were both denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or undiagnosed illness related to Gulf War exposure. The Veteran's fibromyalgia was found to be a manifestation of her diagnosed condition.,Service connection for fibromyalgia, numbness and tingling (claimed as fibromyalgia), joint pain and stiffness (claimed as fibromyalgia), inability to hold heavy objects (claimed as fibromyalgia), nausea, sore muscles (claimed as fibromyalgia), abdominal pain, sinusitis, and dizziness were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or undiagnosed illness related to Gulf War exposure. The Veteran's symptoms were found to be manifestations of her diagnosed condition.,The Veteran was granted service connection for anxiety (previously characterized as a personality disorder) effective July 22, 2004.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disability of chronic fatigue, pain, poor memory and concentration is not causally or etiologically related to his service-connected Hodgkin's disease.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including back disability, hypertension, bilateral foot disability, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and memory loss. The Board has ordered the VA to obtain all relevant medical records and re-adjudicate the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome, are granted based on their presumptive status under the provisions of the Persian Gulf Veterans' Act.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to his military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional disabilities were not caused by VA medical treatment, and thus denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. � 1151.

The Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected as they are considered manifestations of his service-connected atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified muscle and joint pain, also claimed as Gulf War Syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The evidence received since the December 2006 rating decision is cumulative and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the appeal for service connection for PTSD, a disability of the back, erectile dysfunction (ED), sleep apnea, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to potential errors in determining the Veteran's dates of service in the Persian Gulf.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran not appearing for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The claim will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, as they are not supported by medical evidence or do not meet the criteria for service connection under VA regulations.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is at least as likely as not etiologically related to an in-service event, injury or disease. Therefore, service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, chronic left shoulder strain with laxity, muscle and joint pain of the hands and/or ankles (manifested by undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness), chronic fatigue, and short term memory loss. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a separate disability of chronic fatigue syndrome and that his symptoms are attributable to his service-connected hepatitis C. As such, the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including right shoulder disability, headaches, bilateral leg disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and depression. The decision found that new evidence did not establish a current disability for some of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's esophageal cancer is at least as likely as not related to his service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The other secondary claims are being remanded for further development.