Chronic fatigue syndrome decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal regarding the timeliness of his September 2018 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) in response to a December 16, 2016 rating decision. The NOD was submitted within one year after receiving notification from VA about the denial of service connection claims for various disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of Dengue fever diagnosed as headaches with nausea and CFS have been granted initial disability ratings of 50 percent each.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to failure to report to VA examinations and other procedural issues. The Board has broadened the claims to include Gulf War Syndrome-related conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, right shoulder disorder, CFS, and migraines due to a lack of VA examinations addressing the etiology of these conditions. The AOJ is required to provide clarifying medical opinions on remand.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria, and his TDIU claim is denied as he has sufficient income from his own business to avoid being considered unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been reopened and granted. Additionally, his claim for presumptive service connection for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis with accompanying sinus headaches due to exposure to fine particulate matter in the Southwest Asia theater of operations is also granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis is granted.,Other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, obstructive sleep apnea, radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the left lower extremity, eczema, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Veteran was granted service connection for migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic fatigue, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of fatigue began during service and have continued since service separation. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for service-connected Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was denied prior to July 26, 2022. From July 26, 2022, the VA granted an earlier staged rating of 60 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been dismissed.,The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions.

The appeal for service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disorder, sinus condition, and TBI are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, residuals of shingles, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence supporting a direct link between these conditions and her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome due to exposure to burn pits during her period of active service. The case requires an independent medical opinion from a non-VA expert to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of CFS and whether her symptoms are related to her claimed exposure.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue was rated at 100% disabling from October 30, 2015 to October 20, 2020. The effective date for this rating is October 30, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is service-connected due to its presumptive association with his military service as a Persian Gulf War veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but has remanded his claims for hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction due to potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection effective June 27, 2018. The Board finds that an earlier effective date of December 30, 2016 is warranted based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and medical evidence.,Remands are issued for further development regarding service connection claims for intestinal condition, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), right knee disability, left knee disability, rating in excess of 30 percent for trauma and stressor related disorder, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and visual impairment as secondary to multiple sclerosis due to lack of a VA examination and unclear periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).