Fibromyalgia decisions — 2006

The veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of fibromyalgia and service connection for cervical spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and updated medical records.

The case is being remanded for further development, including consideration of an extraschedular rating for the left knee and a medical opinion regarding service connection for fibromyalgia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychosis (schizophrenia) and fibromyalgia with nerve root involvement, as well as his request for a higher rating for residuals of a head injury. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fibromyalgia is related to her active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, finding no evidence of a chronic disability in service and noting that post-service symptomatology was too remote to support an in-service onset. The medical records did not attribute fibromyalgia to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's low back, bilateral hip, left knee, and bilateral foot disabilities are not related to his service-connected right knee disability. The psychiatric disability (Major Depression) is considered a separate issue from the service-connected right knee disability. Service connection for fibromyalgia was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and sleep apnea, finding no current evidence of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The RO found no evidence of the claimed conditions during or within one year after his periods of active duty, and there was no medical opinion linking any current disabilities to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been granted. Service connection was established for post-traumatic pain in the right knee, with a 10% evaluation effective June 2, 1992. Increased evaluations were granted for degenerative joint disease of the right knee (post-traumatic pain) and status post surgery, right shoulder (residual painful range of motion).

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and fibromyalgia was granted, with a rating of 50 percent prior to October 4, 2002, and 70 percent thereafter. The effective date for the TDIU award is set at October 4, 2002.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and clarifying his exposure to radiation during service. The claims will be adjudicated on the basis of direct service connection, non-ionized radiation exposure, and ionized radiation exposure.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine if the appellant's fibromyalgia and arthritis are secondary to his service-connected PTSD, as well as whether these conditions have permanently increased or worsened due to PTSD.

The veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, with no higher rating granted under the old criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).,The veteran was granted an initial 10 percent rating for his fibromyalgia effective November 20, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and hypertension, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The skin condition is not rated higher than the current 30 percent, headaches are not due to an undiagnosed illness or service, pingueculae (left eye) has no causal link to service, fibromyalgia syndrome does not meet criteria for service connection, hair loss and cataracts do not have a direct link to service, and hypertension is being remanded.

The veteran's fibromyalgia, recurring rash, blisters, lump in the back of the neck, unusual skin growths, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) are presumed to be due to service during the Gulf War. The other conditions do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, finding no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a neck injury (claimed as secondary to a service-connected low back disability), obesity (claimed as secondary to a service-connected low back disability), and fibromyalgia (claimed as secondary to a service-connected low back disability).

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mechanical low back strain with fibromyalgia and degenerative changes, post-operative right inguinal hernia, instability and residuals of meniscectomy of the left knee, and a post-operative scar of a right inguinal hernia, meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.