Fibromyalgia decisions — 2015

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for fibromyalgia, effective from the date of claim. The Board finds that his symptoms are episodic and often precipitated by environmental or emotional stress or overexertion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records from a chiropractic clinic and VA Medical Center.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed as there are no remaining issues to be decided.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for GERD was granted by the AMC, and thus there remains no justiciable case or controversy before the Board on this issue. The claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including hypertension, migraines, sleep disability (narcolepsy), sinus disability, and polymyalgia. The issues are primarily about service connection for these conditions as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder or due to exposure to burn pits in Iraq.

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

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is currently rated at 40 percent, effective November 22, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period of time.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's fibromyalgia and whether it is related to his service-connected back disability.

The Board found no current diagnosis of fibromyalgia or a disability manifested by syncope and dizziness, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms, including widespread musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, paresthesias, headache, and Raynaud's-like symptoms, are constant or nearly constant and not refractory to therapy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue or memory problems, to include chronic fatigue syndrome, has also been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for restless leg syndrome has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for any joint condition, to include fibromyalgia, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD and skin disorder were granted initial ratings of 30 percent and 30 percent, respectively. Service connection for bilateral UE mono-neuropathy and weakness/fatigue/joint/muscle pain symptoms was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's hypertension claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran served in the Persian Gulf and exhibited objective indications of fibromyalgia that became manifest to a degree of at least 10 percent not later than December 31, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a secondary service connection for sleep apnea due to his major depressive disorder, knee problems, and fibromyalgia. The VA examiner needs to provide an opinion regarding whether these conditions caused or aggravated the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of anthrax vaccine, finding that the Veteran's claim was not supported by sufficient evidence to reopen her previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the Veteran's fibromyalgia claim. The appeal is now pending again with the Board.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, but the Veteran does not have posttraumatic stress disorder related to an in-service stressor. The claims are denied as a result.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left inguinal hernia was not incurred or aggravated in active service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current fibromyalgia and thoracic strain with degenerative changes, as well as insufficient evidence to establish arthritis due to thoracic strain.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been rated at 40 percent since November 22, 2013. The symptoms include widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points with associated symptoms such as fatigue, stiffness, headaches, paresthesias, and anxiety attacks.