Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's skin rash and chronic joint pain, which are related to his Persian Gulf War service. The VA examiner is requested to provide additional opinions on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of substantial compliance with previous remands.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral elbow disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral foot disabilities. The Veteran's right knee chondrocalcinosis is found to be related to his military service.,Service connection was granted for right knee chondrocalcinosis but not for left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed fatigue disability, including its relationship to service-connected conditions and potential exposures.

The Board has determined that further medical clarification is needed before an informed decision can be made as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and headaches are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted to this extent only. However, the Board has found that additional VA medical opinions are needed as the current evidence does not provide sufficient information to adequately address 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 regarding a chronic disability due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI).

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any pancreatitis with neurological residuals from a Whipple procedure.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, both of which are considered qualifying chronic disabilities due to the Veteran's Gulf War service. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have persisted for more than six months and are likely due to an undiagnosed illness during his Southwest Asia service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for joint and muscle pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a chronic headache disability as secondary to service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The Veteran's representative submitted additional argument and medical articles. The Board requested addendum opinions addressing secondary service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including blindness, glaucoma, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder pain, elbow and wrist swelling, toe numbness, leg numbness, jaw joint pain, hip joint swelling, knee and ankle pain, bilateral pes planus, foot bunions, rib fracture discomfort, hand weakness, left hand swelling, tonsillitis, dizzy spells, fatigue, pharyngitis, allergy disorder, breathing disorder, sleep apnea, heart condition, ulcer, gastritis, gastrointestinal problems, GERD, kidney disorder, lipoma, obesity, arm numbness and pain, and finger numbness. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran's TBI claim is also denied as there was no in-service head injury or related condition.

The Veteran's PTSD, sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, granulomatous lung disease and service connection for testosterone disorder are granted with effective dates of July 12, 2017. Service connection for GERD is denied. The Veteran's skin conditions remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, sleep apnea, breast cancer residuals, cholecystectomy residuals, right knee disability, left knee disability, left foot injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), traumatic brain injury with residuals, memory loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, and tinnitus have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue with insomnia, neurological symptoms, and a respiratory condition due to an undiagnosed illness. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue is remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology, including whether it is at least likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to the effective dates for service connection and initial ratings for various conditions, including IVDS, angina, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board has determined that further development is needed due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for rhinitis is granted due to exposure in the Persian Gulf. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and cervical spine disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining new VA opinions and obtaining treatment records from a private facility. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is being evaluated in light of these new pieces of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the heart disorder and respiratory disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome and hypothyroidism due to inadequate medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service in Southwest Asia.