Fibromyalgia decisions — 2001

The Board has granted a higher schedular rating of 40 percent for service-connected fibromyalgia, effective from November 24, 1998. Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome as a manifestation of fibromyalgia is also granted.

The Board finds that the appellant does not have a current skin disorder of the feet and denies service connection for this condition. For fibromyalgia, the Board notes there is no clear clinical picture as to its etiology and remands the case for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 21, 1998, for the award of service connection for fibromyalgia due to a lack of evidence indicating the presence of the condition at the time of the December 1996 decision.

The Board denied reopening of the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder disability, neck injury, kidney/bladder disability, vision problems (undiagnosed), depression (undiagnosed), TMJ (undiagnosed), fibromyalgia (undiagnosed), and gastrointestinal disability (undiagnosed).

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature of his gastrointestinal disorder, fibromyalgia, and left ankle disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeals on six issues.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected conditions do not warrant an increased rating, as they are currently evaluated at noncompensable levels. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings, finding that there was no evidence of a hearing loss during or subsequent to service. The hiatal hernia did not meet the criteria for an increased rating as it did not cause significant impairment of health. The genital herpes/postoperative laparoscopy, pelvic inflammatory disease were controlled with treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fibromyalgia does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent, and his degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine did not meet criteria for a compensable rating from August 1, 1991 to July 15, 1994. Effective July 15, 1994, the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, respiratory problems, chest pain and rapid heartbeat, thickened saliva and frequent colds, skin disorders, memory loss, irritability, lack of concentration, gastritis, duodenitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the etiology of the veteran's fibrositis/fibromyalgia and bilateral foot disability, as well as whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for further examination and review.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia and pubococcygeal spasms, as these conditions are not caused or aggravated by her service-connected residuals of a laminectomy of L5.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, a gynecological disorder, a psychiatric disorder, tinnitus with vertigo, rhinitis, sinusitis, a dermatological disorder defined as acne or eczema vulgaris, and fibromyalgia. The RO also denied an increased disability rating for service-connected joint pain and stiffness of the right hand, right wrist, and both knees, as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, breast lumps (fibrocystic breast syndrome), and sinusitis. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a fracture at T1 to T8 with fibromyalgia was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that there was no evidence to suggest that her condition developed during service or is related to any other service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including fatigue and joint pain. The Board determined that these conditions are not related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, as well as his fibromyalgia syndrome (claimed as tendonitis and bursitis of joints of the upper and lower extremities), are related to service. The decision is granted for these conditions.