Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service connection claim for disability due to undiagnosed illness and medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses, including CFS and joint and muscle pain, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hepatitis C, and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied as his diabetes, which is already being compensated at a higher level due to loss of use of both feet, cannot serve as the basis for entitlement to SMC on account of the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and provide a comprehensive VA examination to address the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, COPD, and fibromyalgia due to inadequate development. The Veteran must be afforded VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and treatment records. The VA examiner will provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his diagnosed GERD and insomnia.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent since March 14, 2014. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected PTSD prior to that date.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 100% to 70%, effective February 1, 2011. The RO found that there was improvement in his PTSD symptoms but did not establish it as permanent.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea with chronic fatigue, chronic rash of the left forearm, tension headaches, and gastrointestinal disability are related to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a separate disorder manifested by chronic fatigue and his symptoms are attributed to other service-connected and nonservice-connected disorders. Therefore, the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue was denied.

The Veteran's sinusitis was rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board found that there were not more than three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's PTSD was diagnosed but service connection was denied as the evidence did not establish that his in-service stressors occurred.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be etiologically related to his military service, and the Board finds that a preponderance of the evidence supports granting service connection for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for a bilateral ankle disability. The remaining conditions are associated with fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue and sleeplessness have been denied as these conditions are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have chronic fatigue syndrome, joint pain, or muscle pain related to service. The claims were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service and they are not linked to any in-service events.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD and schizophrenia, which led to impaired sleep. The Veteran's headaches are considered an undiagnosed illness due to Persian Gulf service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of all issues, including the increased disability rating for cervical strain and service connection claims. The Board has dismissed these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, skin disorder, psychiatric disorder, and sleep disorder have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability characterized by chronic fatigue or any other qualifying chronic disability related to undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's skin disorder was not shown to be due to exposure in the Persian Gulf War.,The Veteran has multiple diagnoses for her skin condition, including eczema and tinea infections. However, these conditions are not considered manifestations of a Gulf War-related undiagnosed illness.