Fibromyalgia decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and outstanding Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and sarcoidosis are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for an additional clothing allowance based on use of a left knee brace was denied because the regulation does not allow multiple clothing allowances for wear and tear to distinct types of articles of clothing, as he already received three allowances for other appliances or medications.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not file a timely Substantive Appeal for the July 2005 and December 2005 rating decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and a lower back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the North Little Rock RO for scheduling a Travel Board or videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia and plantar fasciitis, do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pain and fatigue is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these symptoms are separate from his already service-connected disabilities, including back strain with degenerative disk disease and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen his claims. The right hip disability was rated at 10 percent prior to February 6, 2013 and at 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability is found to be due to a known clinical diagnosis of bilateral Achilles tendonitis, and service connection is granted.,There are no objective indications of chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness for the residuals of heat exhaustion. Service connection is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board finds that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the cervical spine should be granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for residuals of trauma to the coccyx and for reopening his service connection claims for fibromyalgia and a fractured sacrum. The decision also noted that seeking an examination was not required until after new and material evidence is received to reopen a previously denied claim.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches have been rated at 30 percent since June 1, 2010. The effective date for this rating is now set to June 1, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss, fibromyalgia, joint pain, or sleep disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the evidence is in relative equipoise for service connection of fibromyalgia and POTS, but denied service connection for residuals of mercury poisoning due to lack of a causal relationship.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of arthritis of the bilateral knees, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, an eye condition, residuals of a shoulder injury, and fibromyalgia. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for pes planus is also dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of his headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, and joint pain or fibromyalgia claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues listed on the title page prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and fatigue have been granted service connection under presumptive provisions due to his Persian Gulf War service. Service connection for granulomas of the lung has also been granted but with a noncompensable rating.