Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for neck rash, chronic fatigue, chronic joint pain, and headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted.,The reopened claims include headaches, sinusitis (previously addressed as sinus condition with hay fever and bronchitis), chronic fatigue, right ankle Achilles tendonitis, bilateral hearing loss, and skin rash. These claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his service-connected fibromyalgia. The left shoulder disability and erectile dysfunction secondary to service-connected disabilities have been remanded for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The Veteran's hypertension was not related to service, as evidenced by in-service blood pressure readings that did not meet the required diagnosis for hypertension. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with CFS during the pendency of these claims.,For left thigh limitation of extension, a noncompensable rating is assigned under Diagnostic Code 5003-5251. For left thigh limitation of flexion, a 20 percent rating is assigned under Diagnostic Code 5003-5252. For impairment of the left thigh, a 10 percent rating is assigned under Diagnostic Code 5003-5253.,The Board denied increased ratings for left thigh limitation of extension and flexion, as well as for impairment of the left thigh.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of CFS.,Service connection was granted for twitching of the arms due to a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and right ankle disorder. Service connection was granted for left upper extremity radiculopathy with an effective date of February 20, 2010. The Veteran's blood disorder claim is remanded.

The Veteran is granted service connection for fibromyalgia and a frontal headache disorder, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected Lyme disease and associated residuals, including chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, was granted. The claims for heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for CFS is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the symptoms are found to be related to his service-connected fibromyalgia.,Service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to fibromyalgia and CFS, is also denied.

The Veteran's sleep disturbances, joint pain, and respiratory problems are attributed to known clinical diagnoses rather than an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as the condition is related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. The effective date for the award of service connection for IBS is denied as no new and material evidence was submitted within one year of the May 2011 denial.,The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, depression, fibromyalgia, and a higher rating for IBS are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded in conjunction with these issues.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is remanded as the current VA examination opinions do not address causation or aggravation by his service-connected headaches. The claims for depression and fibromyalgia are also remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing causation or aggravation by his service-connected headaches.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for IBS is remanded as the current VA examination did not address the severity of his condition since March 2016. The claim for a compensable rating for lattice degeneration is also remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded in conjunction with the increased ratings for IBS and lattice degeneration.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee is remanded. The claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and his symptoms are attributed to service-connected PTSD, arthritis, and non-service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being required, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination for a determination on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected chronic fatigue syndrome or if it constitutes a new condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue and prostate disability due to presumed Gulf War exposure, as well as secondary to PTSD. The remand requires additional opinions from VA examiners regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for joint pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin rashes, and joint swelling. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder was granted in a May 2019 rating decision. The claims for inflammation of the joints, chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, elevated white cell blood count (WCB) and chronic blood disorder, lymphedema, postsurgical hypothyroidism, residuals of radiation exposure, sleep apnea, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee pain are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for asbestosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, liver disease, and kidney disease due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Additional medical records are needed from Dr. Kuryla and other clinicians.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA Gulf War examination to determine if the Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is related to his service in the Persian Gulf, including exposure to environmental hazards.