Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further examination. The issues include chronic fatigue, a chronic joint condition (manifested by knee and ankle pain), and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, to include as due to undiagnosed illness, due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with a known entity or if they represent an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has denied service connection for chloracne, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), left hand arthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), enlarged prostate, headaches, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a rating of 70 percent prior to April 26, 2016. He is also granted TDIU prior to that date and SMC due to being housebound since June 29, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the stringent standard of 'loss of use' for his feet prior to December 13, 2013. Therefore, an effective date prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for CFS was denied. The TDIU rating prior to January 6, 2017 is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is granted. The claims for service connection for a temporal lobe disability, left inguinal pain (hernia), chronic fatigue syndrome, low back disability, right knee disability, neck disability, and sleep apnea are all denied.

The Veteran requested a personal hearing and informal conference regarding his service connection claims. The Board has not scheduled these hearings, so the case is being remanded to do so.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was rated as 10 percent disabling from June 24, 1994, to June 22, 2006.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome was rated as 10 percent disabling from February 7, 1996, to March 9, 2005.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has been rated as noncompensable (mild) throughout the appeal period.,PTSD was initially rated at 10 percent from June 24, 1994, to August 19, 1998, and then increased to 70 percent from August 20, 1998, to March 9, 2005.,The Veteran was granted TDIU prior to January 1, 2003, and again from January 1, 2003, to March 9, 2005.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure, chronic fatigue syndrome, and frequent nose bleeds. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his Gulf War exposure and the nature of his symptoms. The Veteran is required to provide more information about his service in Southwest Asia, and new VA examinations are needed to determine if he qualifies as a Persian Gulf Veteran and what conditions he may have.

The Veteran's lumbar strain has been granted a 20 percent evaluation, effective February 21, 2017. The Board also remanded several service connection claims for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, low back pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, and diarrhea were granted effective April 7, 2014. The Board found no evidence to support earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiners. The AOJ must obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Unspecified Depressive Disorder, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia as related to service in the Persian Gulf.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to adjudicate presumptive service connection for undiagnosed illnesses.

The Veteran's IBS is rated at a 10 percent disability rating. The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess her IBS severity. The CFS claim remains pending as well.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. Service connection for this condition is denied. The Veteran's claim for chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10%.,Entitlement to increased ratings for fibromyalgia and CFS remains pending, with remand required for further evaluation.

The Veteran's insomnia disorder is granted service connection as it is related to his service-connected gout of various joints. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as the symptoms are attributed to both a service-connected condition (insomnia disorder) and a non-service-connected condition (sleep apnea).