Fibromyalgia decisions — 2009

The Board has found that the Veteran's fatigue and bilateral knee pain, diagnosed as fibromyalgia associated with bilateral knee pain, are presumed to have been incurred during her service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board found that the Veteran's fibromyalgia with multiple joint pain and degenerative joint disease are not related to her military service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and there is no objective medical evidence linking fibromyalgia to the Veteran's military service. The Board also determined that the Veteran's service-connected back disability did not cause or aggravate her claimed fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been granted a 40% evaluation, the maximum allowed. Service connection for PTSD was not established due to lack of verified stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a thyroid condition, and a mild chronic intermittent lumbar strain have been dismissed due to the untimely filing of his substantive appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of fibromyalgia or headaches due to military service. The medical evidence does not support a finding of chronicity of symptoms such as fatigue, wide spread pain, and trigger point consistent with fibromyalgia during service or in the years following service discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder pain are as likely as not a result of active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and major depressive disorder, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new medical examination to determine the current severity of fibromyalgia and any separate knee or elbow disability. The Veteran is also asked to provide any additional VA or non-VA treatment records.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia and other health issues, all claimed as secondary to chemical and/or biological exposure during active duty. The Board finds that additional development is necessary due to the unclear nature of the classified agent exposure.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's fibromyalgia to her service and denied her claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left wrist injury, left hip subtrochanteric bursitis, and fibromyalgia were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to her military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found no current diagnosis of polymyalgia, CFS, or any other claimed conditions. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for muscle tension headaches due to undiagnosed illness and fibromyalgia are being remanded for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis/arthritis (OA), gastrointestinal disorders with nausea and heartburn, hypertension, cervical spine discogenic disease at C6-C7, C7-T1 and spondylosis, and a right foot disability (calcaneal spurs) as secondary to her service-connected costochondritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were granted effective May 12, 2003.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and fibromyalgia or sciatica were not found to be related to service, and the Board denied these claims.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU/DEA were denied as the earliest date of entitlement was March 1, 2002 when VA issued a new regulation expanding presumptive service connection for fibromyalgia, major depressive disorder (secondary to fibromyalgia), and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain Social Security Administration records and a VA orthopedic examination. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for PTSD, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee retropatellar syndrome, and left knee retropatellar syndrome are being addressed.