Fibromyalgia decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that the Veteran's condition meets the criteria for a presumptive disability due to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at 40 percent since November 8, 2013. The effective date for the TDIU rating has been set as November 1, 2003.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain additional medical records and personnel records, as well as to provide the Veteran with a comprehensive examination. The claims for service connection will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's vestibular disorder is associated with a known clinical diagnosis, namely vestibular neuritis. The most probative evidence is against the claim of service connection for other conditions such as fatigue, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, fibromyalgia, and weight loss.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been stable and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The current 40 percent disability rating is maintained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma and fibromyalgia has been granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's left eye disability claim remains pending as additional information is needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound (s-1) rate effective February 4, 2010. The decision is based on the combined effects of multiple service-connected disabilities, with fibromyalgia being the single disability that renders the Veteran unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle twitching/spasms, pain, and weakness (claimed as fibromyalgia) is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, a back disorder, and hypertension. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence to reopen the claim for fibromyalgia. Service connection was also denied for the back disorder and hypertension as there is no direct or presumptive evidence of these conditions during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The TDIU claim is held in abeyance until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's sinusitis/rhinitis, bilateral hip osteopenia with secondary arthralgias, and fibromyalgia/rheumatoid arthritis are not service-connected. However, the Veteran's bilateral hip osteopenia is found to be related to her service-connected residuals of total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo oophorectomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service connected, as there is no competent and probative evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's fibromyalgia warranted a 40% evaluation from August 19, 2013 onwards. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disorder (eczema), and migraine headaches were granted, while the claim for endometriosis was also granted.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is service-connected due to its presumptive relationship with his Gulf War service.,Prior to December 16, 2010, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for chronic headaches.

The Veteran's wife has multiple disabling conditions that require the aid and attendance of another person, qualifying him for SMC benefits. The claims for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to PTSD are denied.

The Veteran's chronic body pain, including fibromyalgia and joint/muscle conditions, were not found to be related to service or an undiagnosed illness. The Board denied the claims for these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia with muscle and joint pain and chronic fatigue syndrome as medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses, presumptively related to the Veteran's Gulf War service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also service connected.