Fibromyalgia decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing at the RO.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to missing service treatment records and a need for further development. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered after all available evidence is obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for fibromyalgia, low back strain, and irritable bowel syndrome. The Veteran was not granted any new or material evidence to reopen his service connection claim.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new evidence suggests a possible link to service.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is denied as the effective date cannot be earlier than March 1, 2002 due to the one-year rule for increased disability ratings.

The Veteran's respiratory condition is not service connected as it is linked to her long-term smoking habit.,Clubbing of fingernails and toenails are considered secondary to the respiratory condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of a neurological disorder (other than TBI), sleep apnea, back disability, and fibromyalgia, were not incurred or aggravated by service.,Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by her service-connected cervical spine DDD and lumbar strain.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral otitis media have been evaluated based on the applicable rating criteria. The claims for increased ratings are denied as the current evaluations under the schedular criteria adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have fibromyalgia which is etiologically related to service and therefore denies her claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and fibromyalgia, as well as TDIU. The appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, provide a supplemental nexus opinion regarding the etiology of fibromyalgia, and issue a statement of the case on the tinnitus claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for fibromyalgia and TDIU was denied as her disability picture is adequately contemplated by the rating schedule criteria, and she does not meet the requirements for a schedular or extraschedular TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, and there is no medical opinion linking any current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia and left hip/back pain was reopened due to new evidence. His disability picture is currently rated as noncompensable for his left ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's joint pain in both hands, chronic fatigue symptoms, and fibromyalgia are part of a medically unexplained chronic multisystem illness. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the claims of entitlement to service connection for neurology problems exclusive of fibromyalgia symptoms, bilateral hearing loss disability, and fibrocystic breast disease prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for chronic sinusitis and left L5-S1 radiculopathy were granted. Service connection was denied for a cervical spine disability, left thoracic outlet syndrome, right thoracic outlet syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new examinations and the obtaining of additional medical records. The issues include claims for increased evaluations for fibromyalgia with irritable bowel syndrome and major depressive disorder, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining updated treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and issuing an SOC on additional claims.