Fibromyalgia decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a scheduled video-conference hearing. The issues of increased ratings for specific disabilities are also referred back to the RO.

The Board has ordered the case remanded for further examination and consideration of service connection for fibromyalgia, currently claimed as a chronic systemic infection. The appeal is pending due to the need to address secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, as the conditions claimed are not shown to be related to his military service or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, fibromyalgia, and residuals of left total hip replacement. The veteran's claim for hypertension was previously denied and is no longer on appeal.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support the veteran's claims.

The Board found that the veteran's fibromyalgia is not service-connected as it cannot be attributed to any known clinical diagnosis and there was no evidence of a chronic disability during service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination of her GERD and an evaluation by a physician knowledgeable in fibromyalgia.

The veteran's claims for service connection were granted with effective dates of September 29, 1993. The RO assigned disability ratings and effective dates based on the earliest date of objective medical evidence supporting the evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and a headache disorder (including migraines) on the basis that these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, arthritis of multiple joints (including degenerative changes of the cervical spine), a heart condition (claimed as arteriosclerotic heart disease), hypertension, and a chronic disability manifested by weakness of the extremities. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service or are related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including an ear condition and bilateral hearing loss, have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities and fibromyalgia are related to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of fibromyalgia, finding that the earliest possible effective date is March 1, 2002 due to a liberalizing change in law. The case was remanded for further development related to the rating for fibromyalgia.

The veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at the maximum schedular rating percentage provided for such disability, and his total unemployability due to service-connected disabilities claim is denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for fibromyalgia, which she claims was triggered by her back surgery. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the fibromyalgia is related to her service-connected low back disability.

The Board has found that service connection is warranted for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia (other than joint pains attributable to diagnosed disorders of the shoulders, back and knees), left hand neuropathy, right hand neuropathy, left upper extremity tremors, right upper extremity tremors, and shortness of breath.,The veteran's symptoms have been linked to an undiagnosed illness or exposure to toxic agents.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his claim for a higher rating for right knee disability. The decision also deferred resolution of the TDIU claim until the psychiatric condition issue is decided.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records.

The veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS, and fibromyalgia are found to be due to an undiagnosed illness related to service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. The gastrointestinal disorder other than IBS is also found to be due to an undiagnosed illness, but not service-connected. Headaches are found to be due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions as a result of her service.