Fibromyalgia decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or PTSD. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was also denied.,Service connection for PTSD was granted in May 2000 with a current evaluation of 70 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the current ratings for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations, and there was no evidence linking his shoulder, hip, or fibromyalgia to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's fibromyalgia is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and granted service connection for this condition. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent due to the current occupational and social impairment.

The VA has granted the veteran's initial disability ratings for fibromyalgia and central nervous system hypersomnolence, with a 40 percent rating for fibromyalgia. The veteran is not entitled to an increased rating as her symptoms are already encompassed within the maximum schedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that service connection can be granted for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disturbance due to sleep apnea, and fibromyalgia as due to undiagnosed illnesses. Headaches are not considered due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the veteran's claims, including VA examinations to address his fibromyalgia and stomach disorder.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for mixed headaches, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an abnormal EKG, loss of right eye vision, fibromyalgia, circulatory dysfunction of the lower extremities, loss of teeth, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The reasons were that there was no diagnosis of PTSD, no credible supporting evidence for the occurrence of in-service stressors, no chronic disease associated with an abnormal EKG, no causal relationship between herbicide exposure and the claimed conditions, and no service connection could be established.

The veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective April 1991.,Her right and left knee patellofemoral syndromes are each rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension was set at August 17, 1993. A 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus prior to February 3, 1998 is granted.

The veteran's dysthymic disorder with a somatoform disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome is rated at 70 percent, fibromyalgia at 20 percent, arachnoid cyst at 10 percent, and seborrheic psoriasis does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to an effective date of March 1, 2002 for the award of service connection for fibromyalgia. The claims for chronic back and right knee disorders as well as PTSD have also been granted.

The veteran is seeking an increased initial evaluation for fibromyalgia beyond the currently assigned 20 percent. The case has been remanded due to a procedural defect where new evidence was submitted but not considered in the decision.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of her fibromyalgia and low back disability. The RO will also obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, but denied the claims of service connection for cervical spine disorder and fibromyalgia. The veteran's current back disorders are related to her in-service falls.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance (A&A) or by reason of being housebound (HB) is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a comprehensive VA medical examination.