Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including neck disability, left knee and right knee disabilities, chronic fatigue, sleep disorder, headaches, left arm and leg disabilities. The severance of service connection for fractured teeth #15 and #17 is also being addressed.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The claim of TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is reopened, and the case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between her benign snoring syndrome and sleep apnea. The Veteran's Gulf War undiagnosed illness claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for Gulf War Syndrome is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,The Veteran's claim for numbness and pain of the lower extremities is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,The Veteran's claim for fibromyalgia has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the claim remains denied as there is no established link between the condition and service.,The Veteran's claim for chronic fatigue syndrome has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the claim remains denied as there is no established link between the condition and service.,The Veteran's claim for headaches (claimed as migraine headaches) has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the claim remains denied as there is no established link between the condition and service.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the claim remains denied as there is no established link between the condition and service.,The Veteran's claim for a right knee scar has been remanded due to insufficient information regarding its etiology.

Service connection is granted for seborrheic dermatitis and migraine headaches.,Service connection is remanded for chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder impingement syndrome, left knee pain, right knee pain, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and memory loss, have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, fibromyalgia (due to an undiagnosed illness), chronic fatigue syndrome (due to an undiagnosed illness), and respiratory disorder (due to an undiagnosed illness) have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has found that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and asthma. The AOJ should consider this new evidence in their first instance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a chronic multisymptom illness, sleep apnea, and a psychiatric disorder are not supported by the evidence of record. The appeals have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.