Fibromyalgia decisions — 2012

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and a hiatal hernia, finding no current diagnosis of either condition in the record. The Veteran's joint pains were attributed to various diagnoses including back and shoulder pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and for increased ratings for her cervical spine disability, finding that there was no current diagnosis of fibromyalgia related to active service or a service-connected condition. The TDIU claim was also denied as the evidence did not show that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for fibromyalgia and thoracolumbar spine disability were denied. The Veteran was already receiving the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5025 for fibromyalgia, and his thoracolumbar spine disability was rated as 'denied' based on lack of favorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of her claimed conditions. The issue of service connection for PTSD will also be remanded as she has submitted a notice of disagreement on this matter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD with associated anxiety and major depression, as well as fibromyalgia. The claim seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for fibromyalgia is dismissed due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions, when considered together, render him unemployable. The claim will be readjudicated after obtaining a new opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of whether the Veteran's MCTD is as likely as not causally related to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disability is service-connected, and her menstrual disability (abnormal bleeding) and fibromyalgia are not service-connected. The skin disability is presumed to be related to active duty due to objective evidence of treatment during or shortly after service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including malaria, a respiratory disorder, a cervical spine disorder, neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, right and left eye disorders, fibromyalgia and musculoskeletal pain, bilateral knee disorders, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The status of his claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and TDIU is currently unknown due to the need for further clarification.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cherry angioma, headaches (including tension and migraine), chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The conditions were found to be not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, with the exception of arthralgias. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection under direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously denied due to lack of a verified in-service stressor. New evidence received since the previous denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his entitlement to compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of Interferon treatment has been denied because new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current fibromyalgia or a separate chronic pain disorder and thus, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claimed memory loss and myalgias/arthralgias were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to the Persian Gulf War environment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service connection determinations and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling appropriate VA examinations.