Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2018

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The Board found that the additional evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for left elbow disorder was granted, with the claim being reopened but not decided on the merits due to lack of competent medical opinion linking the condition to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding his periods of active duty and Air Force Reserve service, particularly concerning vaccinations he received in 1987. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and complete forms for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to render him unemployable, but further examination is needed for some of the issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain medical records and examinations related to his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of respiratory disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and generalized arthritis and joint pain have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The hearing loss claim remains on appeal.

The Board has denied reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, chronic fatigue, muscle and joint pain, adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features and depressed mood, respiratory disorders, sleep apnea, and sleep disturbances. The issues are remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected cardiomyopathy with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is found to be etiologically related to his chronic fatigue syndrome, thus granting service connection for CFS on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a skin disorder, and CFS have been reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection has been granted for PTSD. The skin disorder and CFS remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, bronchitis, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diverticulosis, colon polyps, kidney stones, cysts and lumps, facial acne, headaches, and depression. The remand requires obtaining private medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to mercury from dental fillings and its relationship to his current symptoms. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records, including CT scans, and a VA examination will be conducted to determine if there are any residuals of mercury poisoning related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint pain, muscle pain, hypertension secondary to PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart condition (claimed as cardiovascular symptoms), and headaches. The reasons include the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all conditions and issues except hypertension, PTSD/Depressive Disorder with Memory Loss, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, GERD, back disorder, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, right and left hand disabilities, diverticulitis, chronic constipation, urinary incontinence, arthritis of the entire body, fibromyalgia/arthralgia, erectile dysfunction, rhinitis, migraine headaches, fungus of the feet, sinusitis, hypercholesterolemia. The Board dismissed these appeals as per the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and it has not been linked to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to her service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Joint and Muscle Symptoms (claimed as Fibromyalgia).

The Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for left hip and left ankle disabilities have been granted. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection for thyroid cancer, breast mass, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, hypertension, digestive disorder, respiratory condition, upper back/neck disability, migraine headaches, and others.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and cerebral aneurysm are remanded due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners and the need for further clarification.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep apnea, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to support a claim for secondary service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that several issues related to service connection and effective dates are in need of further review due to procedural errors, including the failure to consider certain VA examination reports and the Veteran's updated address.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for tinnitus, deviated septum, barotrauma of the left ear, sinusitis, and left ear hearing loss. Service connection is also granted for fibromyalgia but denied for chronic fatigue syndrome.