Fibromyalgia decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran's left upper back disability, manifested by chronic pain and occasional numbness in the left arm with full strength and range of motion, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent under the criteria for incomplete paralysis of the upper radicular nerve group. The current 20 percent rating is maintained.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore his claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's fibromyalgia and lumbar spine disorder are not related to her active service, with the exception of a motor vehicle accident in October 1995 which significantly worsened these conditions. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The VA granted service connection for fibromyalgia and assigned a 10 percent rating effective March 1996. The veteran's symptoms of fibromyalgia are constant, or nearly so, and refractive to therapy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fibromyalgia warrants a 40% rating, effective October 20, 2000. The VA examiner found it very likely related to the veteran's military service. Service connection for low back disability is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, claimed as secondary to rubella, finding no link between her current condition and military service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's fibromyalgia to her military service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that none of them were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a chronic systemic infection, currently claimed as fibromyalgia, finding that there was no medical evidence supporting a link between his military service and any current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a technical problem with the hearing transcript and requests for a new video conference hearing.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 16, 1992 for the award of service connection for fibromyalgia. The claims for increased evaluations for carpal tunnel syndrome of both hands have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and migraine headaches, finding that the veteran did not incur these conditions due to active military service or any incident therein. The claims were also not granted as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings on appeal were denied. The denial of service connection for hyperthyroidism, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia was also noted.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability is being remanded due to conflicting medical evidence. The VA is asked to clarify whether the veteran has separate radiculopathy symptoms and if so, differentiate them from fibromyalgia syndrome. Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied for lichen planus, periodontal disease, and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine as being due to undiagnosed illness. The claim for fibromyalgia was granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 5, 2004 for the award of a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD. The appellant's irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia are found to be secondary to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of multiple joint arthritis, fibromyalgia, and myofascial pain syndrome were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibrositis/fibromyalgia and bilateral foot disability, finding no verified diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a link between them and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim, finding that the purchase of 'medical marijuana' cannot be recognized as a deductible medical expense for purposes of qualification for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits due to federal law prohibiting its use.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected fibromyalgia of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence of intervertebral disc syndrome or ankylosis. The Board concluded that prior to April 20, 2004, the disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, and since then, it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent.