Fibromyalgia decisions — 2010

The Veteran seeks service connection for a disability manifested by joint pain, previously adjudicated as polyarthralgias and fibromyalgia. The Board finds that further development is necessary to determine the extent and etiology of his disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a combined schedular 100 percent evaluation was denied as there has been no adjustment of any evaluation assigned for service connected disabilities prior to October 30, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to reassess his low back disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's medical records and provide him with proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and no specific decision on the merits can be made.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hypertension. The new evidence received since the last final denial relates to these conditions and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating them.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, headaches, bilateral shoulder disorders, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for muscle fatigue, chest pain, and sleep disorder (other than sleep apnea) are denied as they are considered symptoms of his service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for narcolepsy with cataplexy and parasomnia has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, dermatophytosis, and fibromyalgia were granted with noncompensable initial ratings.

The Veteran seeks service connection for fibromyalgia. The VA has not provided sufficient evidence to decide the claim, and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Sacred Heart Hospital on January 3, 2005 is granted as the services were provided in an emergency and no VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and fibromyalgia were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service treatment records are negative for complaints, diagnoses, or treatment related to these conditions while on active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and awarded special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ, both effective January 6, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since June 15, 2004. The fibromyalgia rating remains at 40 percent. The left and right foot plantar fasciitis ratings are both 10 percent. The cholecystectomy residuals remain at 0 percent. The IBS is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and further evidence collection. The Veteran's claims of service connection for fibromyalgia with immune system failure and irritable bowel syndrome are pending.

The Board denied all issues related to service connection and initial evaluations for various disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and an increased rating for his digestive system disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are found to be related to his military service, specifically his service-connected PTSD.