Fibromyalgia decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was rated at 20% and is now rated at 40%, the maximum schedular rating, due to constant symptoms that are refractory to therapy.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent and the RO has granted service connection for this condition. The Veteran also received a higher rating of 50 percent for his PTSD from August 26, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a back disability was incorrectly determined to be an orthopedic condition instead of a manifestation of her service-connected fibromyalgia. The effective date for the grant of service connection for fibromyalgia is now set at May 15, 2007, and she is granted an initial rating of 40%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU for the entire appeals period.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for chronic fatigue syndrome as due to an undiagnosed illness with migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia from 100% to 60% was not proper. The reduction of her low back disability rating from 20% to 10% was found to be proper.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal in a statement dated December 3, 2013.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and sleep apnea are presumed to have developed during her active service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue and muscle and joint pain have been denied as they are not related to his active duty service.,There is no evidence of chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia in the Veteran's service records, and both conditions are attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The Veteran's severe body and joint pain, fatigue, restlessness, shortness of breath, and fibromyalgia are attributed to a post-service motor vehicle accident, and the evidence does not support a finding that these current disorders are related to any incident of qualifying service, including his Gulf War service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's fibromyalgia is as likely as not attributable to her active military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 10 percent, with occupational and social impairment due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The Veteran has been granted service connection for fibromyalgia but denied for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for an annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2013 is being remanded due to the need for additional clinical determination regarding the use of his service-connected fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue syndrome braces and their impact on his clothes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disorder and fibromyalgia have been reopened, but the evidence does not support granting these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board found that the Veteran's fibromyalgia is not secondary to her service-connected bilateral knee disability and denied both her claim for service connection and her TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a back injury, fibromyalgia, COPD, and right knee disability are not related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's low back disability, Reiter's Syndrome, and fibromyalgia are all found to be related to his military service.

The Board found that an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include adjustment disorder with mixed anxious and depressed mood, is etiologically related to the Veteran's military service. Fibromyalgia was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by active service.