Fibromyalgia decisions — 2010

The Veteran's fibromyalgia does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent based on extraschedular consideration as her symptoms are constant or nearly constant and refractory to therapy, which is already captured by the current rating under Diagnostic Code 5025.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoporosis, as well as increased ratings for existing disabilities. The case is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including chronic pain and psychiatric disorders. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right foot pes planus, left hip disability, cervical spine DDD, shoulder and upper extremity disabilities, lumbar spine DDD, bilateral knee disability, lower extremity nerve disability, fibromyalgia, and left ankle disability. The appeals were based on the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, as well as her claims for increased evaluations of her right wrist and ankle disabilities, and her TDIU claim have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of fibromyalgia in the record, and that it was not incurred during active service or due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current residuals of an upper back injury, including fibromyositis and fibromyalgia, are causally related to her active service.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and deQuervain's Disease. The Veteran was not diagnosed with these conditions during her military service, and there is no medical evidence linking them to her active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying the September 2009 examination report.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 40 percent, which represents a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's fibromyalgia did not have its onset during active service, is not related to a service-connected condition, and was not caused or aggravated by her service-connected lumbar spine disability. As such, the claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, including as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability, has been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions in a previous examination report.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia is currently rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 40 percent. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating effective March 6, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the relationship between Reiter's syndrome and his service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will also be addressed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including neck injury, heat exposure, thoracolumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, skin condition, tinnitus, PTSD, gastrointestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, fibromyalgia, and sleep disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability is related to her service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The cervical spine disability was not shown to be related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's claimed conditions and denied all service connection claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's left, right knee disabilities and low back disability were not incurred in or aggravated by her active service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, Epstein Barr/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, Raynaud's syndrome, anemia, diverticulitis, tinnitus and migraines are all found to be related to Agent Orange exposure in service.