Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal to reopen claims for tinnitus/transient ear noise and fatigue/chronic fatigue syndrome was granted. The rating for PTSD with sleep disturbances and unspecified depressive disorder remains at 50 percent.,The VA is remanding the cases of tinnitus, chronic fatigue, and migraines.

Service connection is granted for shin splints, right shoulder disability, and bilateral ankle disabilities.,Service connection is granted for esophageal diverticulum, dumping syndrome, pancreatitis, anemia, syncope, heart condition, hypertension, back condition, asthma, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service connection is granted for headaches.

The Board has found that the VA medical examination did not substantially comply with the October 2018 remand instructions and thus requires another remand to ensure compliance.

The Board has denied service connection for treatment purposes under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for multiple conditions including right shoulder, right knee, left knee, low back pain, restless leg syndrome, headaches (cephalalgia), chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The character of the appellant's discharge from his period of service was found to be a bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS, and 5th metatarsal fracture was denied. The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and the reopening of a tinnitus claim. The tobacco use disorder claim is denied as there is no evidence it is related to active service other than in-service cigarette smoking.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, and it is now granted. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher or separate rating for the scars on his abdomen that are residuals of his colon cancer surgery.,The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, as it was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected colon condition.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, vertigo or Meniere’s disease, insomnia, conjunctivitis, cataracts, ulcers, headaches, right-hand and left-hand disabilities, squamous cell skin cancer, cholecystitis (claimed as a gallbladder disability), colitis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disability on the back, PTSD, right knee disability, lower back disability, left knee disability, hypertension, and GERD. The claims are denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities or due to in-service exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome claim is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and heart disability, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions and attributing them to known clinical diagnoses rather than undiagnosed illnesses.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various disorders have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastrointestinal issues, and foot/ankle/hip conditions related to Gulf War service are being remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, but further development is needed including obtaining Social Security records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has identified several issues related to service connection that require additional evidence and a reevaluation. The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), joint pain, chronic headaches, GERD, skin disability, and sleep apnea are all remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is related to his service. The case will be reviewed again with consideration of new evidence.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection and increased evaluations, as well as the issue of TDIU. The Veteran's representative raised a new issue of entitlement to a TDIU in December 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic dizziness, and increased hair loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected malaria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have been denied.,The claim to reopen the previously denied sleep apnea (now claimed as sleep disturbances) has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen his service connection claim and increase ratings for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.