Fibromyalgia decisions — 2002

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for fibromyalgia, effective from the day following the veteran's service discharge. The right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated as non-compensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and generalized arthritis, finding no current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fibromyalgia was not incurred in active military service and denied his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and PTSD, with the latter receiving a higher initial rating. The veteran's fibromyalgia is presumed to have been incurred due to his active military service in the Persian Gulf War. For PTSD, the initial rating prior to November 10, 1997 was granted, while ratings of 50 percent and 70 percent were assigned from that date onwards.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, aggravation of pre-existing vitiligo / skin disorder, chronic depression, residuals of a back injury, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for fibromyalgia and assigned a 40% evaluation, effective from August 21, 1996. The claim was reopened on new evidence received in August 1997.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorders was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that his early post-traumatic arthritis of the knees is causally related to an injury sustained in service.,PTSD has been granted with a 50 percent rating effective December 15, 1997. The veteran's fibromyalgia was initially rated at 10 percent from September 7, 1999 to August 21, 2000 and then increased to 20 percent starting from August 22, 2000.,The veteran's hiatal hernia with acid reflux disease has been rated at 10 percent since October 18, 1999.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for fibromyalgia and to reopen her claim of service connection for a back disability. The neck disability claim is pending as it will be addressed in a later decision.

The Board denied a higher initial disability evaluation for the veteran's fibromyalgia/myofascial pain syndrome involving the thoracic spine, assigning the highest available rating of 40 percent.

The veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia was granted a 40 percent rating effective March 1, 2002. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD and the issue of service connection for fatigue and joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness were denied.

The Board found that the veteran's fibromyalgia and thoracic outlet syndrome were not incurred in or aggravated during active service, and are not proximately due to or the result of a service connected disease or injury. Therefore, these conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in a loss of use of both lower extremities, warranting special monthly compensation and eligibility for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment. He is also eligible for specially adapted housing assistance.

The veteran's fibromyalgia, dizziness/lightheadedness, and sweats are found to be related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The skin disorder and hydrocele were not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, impotence, sleep apnea with fatigue, hair loss, and irritable bowel syndrome as undiagnosed illnesses incurred during the Gulf War.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 1, 1997 for the assignment of a separate 40 percent rating for fibromyalgia with major depression.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability, finding that such an earlier date is legally precluded due to the veteran's service-connected disabilities not being in place prior to March 15, 1999.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation and service connection were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating for his pes planus, and that he did not have valley fever with pulmonary obstructive disease or any other condition related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for multiple joint pain, gout, and a lung condition (claimed as bilateral pleural plaques), finding no evidence of any diagnosed disability incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an increased evaluation for cervical strain. The veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied all other claims. The veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.