Fibromyalgia decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically undifferentiated somatoform disorder, has been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to his active service or any service-connected condition. The claim for increased rating for fibromyalgia prior to March 30, 2012 was not adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a seizure disorder was denied as there is no credible evidence of current disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left upper extremity disorders (claimed as bilateral arm pain and numbness) secondary to the service-connected cervical strain. The Veteran's tension headaches with migraine features are also rated higher than 10 percent. However, further development is needed due to incomplete information regarding her psychiatric conditions and fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and therefore, he is not entitled to presumptive service connection for any conditions related to Agent Orange exposure. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were withdrawn, and her right knee degenerative joint disease was denied.

The Board has determined that fibromyalgia is secondary to service-connected PTSD and grants the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, fibromyalgia, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. The Veteran's claims were remanded due to new evidence received after a prior denial.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim can be properly adjudicated, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current bilateral hearing loss disability to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent. The claim for an increased evaluation on a schedular basis has been denied. The claim for an extraschedular evaluation remains pending.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected lupus. His initial rating for system lupus erythematous, lupus nephritis, remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's undiagnosed illness, rated as fibromyalgia, is currently evaluated at 40 percent and has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. Her lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, but the Board found no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, fibromyalgia, depression, arthritis of the shoulders, hands, and hips, memory loss (small vessel brain disease), headaches, macular degeneration, dry eyes, and flat feet have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service or manifest within one year of separation.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including myofascial pain syndrome, impingement syndrome, and right rotator cuff tendinopthy, is granted. The claim of service connection for fibromyalgia has been withdrawn. Service connection for left knee disorder is reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial in 1998. Service connection for right ankle disorder is also reopened.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that the current condition is at least as likely as not due to an injury sustained during active service.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia with headaches is rated at 40 percent since August 10, 2006.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is rated at 30 percent since August 10, 2006.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is caused by her service-connected disorders, and the Board grants service connection for fibromyalgia on a secondary basis.