Chronic fatigue syndrome Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and other disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed disabilities due to lack of medical evidence showing a relationship with service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The Board remanded the issues of service connection for a gastrointestinal condition and joint pain, claimed as due to Gulf War syndrome.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for an in-person examination. The Veteran's chronic fatigue is being reviewed again as it may be related to his service-connected prostate cancer or exposure to herbicides, but more evidence is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and Persian Gulf War Syndrome, to include GERD, are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is also seeking higher ratings for his knee disabilities and an earlier effective date for SMC.,Separate ratings for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis are also being remanded as there is no clear separation in the records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorder (to include irritable bowel syndrome), heart disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, as the cause of death (acute myocardial infraction) is not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied, while his claims for anxiety, depression, and PTSD were granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for various conditions, including cardiovascular issues, neuropsychological symptoms, CFS or CFIDS, fibromyalgia, CMV and EBV, hypothyroidism, mycoplasma, headaches, pituitary dysfunction, deficiencies in hormones, hypercoagulation state, respiratory problems, and menstrual disorders. The Board found that none of these conditions were related to service.,The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection due to CFS or CFIDS were also denied.

The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's joint pain, gastrointestinal disorder, fatigue, and headaches are due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.,The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's ulcerative colitis is related to in-service exposure to environmental hazards or otherwise related to service.,The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's fatigue is due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's headaches are related to in-service TBI or otherwise related to service.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's right hand wrist strain and left hand wrist strain are related to service.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's disability of the left hand fingers and disability of the right hand fingers are related to service.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service.,The RO combined the rating for residuals of concussion with PTSD. The Board finds that a separate rating for residuals of concussion should be considered in light of the Veteran's reported overuse injury and repetitive motion stemming from his service duties.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for a survivor's special monthly pension and a survivor's pension since September 1, 2011 due to her income exceeding the applicable maximum annual pension rates (MAPRs).,The appellant was found not in need of regular aid and attendance or substantially confined to her home due to disabilities. Her countable income exceeded the MAPRs for the relevant periods.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome have all been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service, particularly given the Veteran's military exposure to noise and sun exposure. Service connection is granted based on presumptive service connection for CFS due to his Persian Gulf service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and chronic fatigue syndrome. The appeal for irritable bowel syndrome is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, finding that there is no current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and that symptoms are consistent with other diagnosed disabilities. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and medical opinions, as well as issues with notice and representation. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities allegedly related to in-service exposure to environmental contaminants at Naval Air Facility Atsugi.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain any outstanding treatment records and to request new VA opinions.

The Board denied service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) on the grounds that there was no clear and unmistakable error in their decision. The Veteran's claim was based on a diagnosis of CFS, but the Board found that the evidence did not support such a diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irregular menses and chronic fatigue syndrome (claimed as an undiagnosed illness related to service in the Persian Gulf) have been reopened. The claim for service connection for irregular menses is granted, while the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no separate diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder (claimed as emphysema, COPD, and recurrent pneumonia) are remanded due to insufficient clarification on whether he continues to experience recurrent pneumonia past 2009 and whether his diagnosed conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome, right leg and left leg are remanded as the VA examiner did not address the relationship between cold weather exposure and restless leg syndrome.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left eye retinal pigment epithelium mottling, para retinal telangiectasia is remanded due to a lack of Goldmann visual field chart from his September 2009 VA examination and the need for clarification on whether bilateral dermatochalasis and bilateral cataracts are symptoms or separate diagnoses proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left eye condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The cases for skin disorder and chronic fatigue are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection as it began within one year of separation from active duty. However, the Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis and his symptoms are attributed to other conditions.