Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, as his symptoms are attributed to other diagnosed conditions and there is no evidence of a chronic disability due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various conditions and service connection claims. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and ensuring all relevant VA treatment records are associated with the file.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and memory loss.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and a TDIU on an extraschedular basis. The Board has ordered additional development to address these issues, including obtaining a VA examination and considering the issue of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and securing SSA documents. A new Gulf War Illness examination is also required to address the Veteran's joint pain and chronic fatigue.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since February 19, 2016. The skin disorder claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or undiagnosed illness. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were not granted, while abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal issues were found to be related to an undiscovered illness.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since February 19, 2016. The skin disorder claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or undiagnosed illness. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were not granted, while abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal issues were found to be related to an undiscovered illness.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since February 19, 2016. The skin disorder claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or undiagnosed illness. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were not granted, while abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal issues were found to be related to an undiscovered illness.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since February 19, 2016. The skin disorder claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or undiagnosed illness. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were not granted, while abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal issues were found to be related to an undiscovered illness.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since February 19, 2016. The skin disorder claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or undiagnosed illness. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were not granted, while abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal issues were found to be related to an undiscovered illness.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since February 19, 2016. The skin disorder claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or undiagnosed illness. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were not granted, while abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal issues were found to be related to an undiscovered illness.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since February 19, 2016. The skin disorder claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or undiagnosed illness. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were not granted, while abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal issues were found to be related to an undiscovered illness.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since February 19, 2016. The skin disorder claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or undiagnosed illness. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were not granted, while abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal issues were found to be related to an undiscovered illness.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since February 19, 2016. The skin disorder claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or undiagnosed illness. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were not granted, while abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal issues were found to be related to an undiscovered illness.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen several previously denied claims. The right ankle tibiotalar degenerative joint disease was rated at 20 percent, but no higher due to lack of ankylosis. The noncompensable scar rating remained unchanged.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome, digestive condition (including hernia and GERD), and diabetes mellitus were not found to be related to service.,There is no evidence of any diagnosed conditions in the Veteran's service records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and qualifying active service or a service-connected disability, including PTSD. For the increased rating claim for PTSD, the Board found that the preponderance of the evidence was against a finding that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas as of July 17, 2008, but not earlier. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with chronic fatigue syndrome and erectile dysfunction being found to be related to his service in the Persian Gulf War. The other conditions are not considered due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illnesses.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and head and neck tic (claimed as involuntary shaking of the head with dizziness) due to lack of a current diagnosis.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or head and neck tic in the Veteran's records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome and COPD, have manifested to a compensable degree prior to December 31, 2021. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, which the Board finds is service-connected due to exposure to silica fibers in service. The claims for accrued benefits based on pending claims for service connection for various conditions are also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim for a skin disorder. The Veteran's right wrist, hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD and/or hiatal hernia), and psychological disorder other than PTSD have been found to be related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas or total occupational and social impairment, so his claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, including as an undiagnosed illness, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a right ankle disability, residuals of low back injury, right lower extremity sciatica, sinusitis, rhinitis, IBS, and GERD. The decision also addressed reopening of his claim for service connection for asbestos exposure.