Fibromyalgia decisions — 2017

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA Gulf War Protocol examination.

The Veteran's claim of an initial rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD was granted, and he is now rated at 70 percent. The issue of a TDIU was also granted. The claim of service connection for fibromyalgia was denied. Service connection for PFB and bladder disorder were not established. Special monthly compensation based on the need for aid & attendance/housebound status was granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, hypertension, and fibromyalgia were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial compensable rating (level I) for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for her service-connected fibromyalgia with Raynaud's phenomenon. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding whether SLE should be considered part of her service-connected disability and if so, whether it is related to her military service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome was withdrawn. The claim of service connection for heat urticaria remains denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen it.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability due to new evidence received since the October 2003 denial. The Veteran's current right ankle disability is found to be related to his in-service parachute jump injury.,Service connection is granted for a right ankle disability, with consideration of continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Veteran's sinus condition was not caused or aggravated by active military service.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for low back pain with sciatica, but it is not etiologically related to service.,CTS of the left upper extremity was not caused or aggravated by active military service or a service-connected disability.,Evidence received since the May 2007 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for diabetes mellitus; however, the Veteran's COPD is not etiologically related to service.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for hypertension. The evidence does not show that this condition was caused or aggravated by service-connected PTSD.,Fibromyalgia was not caused or aggravated by active military service.,The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for ureaplasma urealyticum (to include infertility, low sperm count, and low testosterone) has not been supported by new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's fibromyalgia and whether it is related to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, including muscle and joint aches, headaches, nosebleeds, pre-malignant keratosis on face, arms, and lips, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and fibromyalgia, based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, a skin disorder, and headaches. The appeal to sever service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was also denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, and associated upper and lower extremity radiculopathy are service-connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and neuropsychological disorder) is service-connected.,The Veteran's sleep disorder, fibromyalgia, multiple joint and muscle pain, hemorrhoids, recurrent headaches, cardiovascular disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, respiratory disorder, and left eye injury are not service-connected.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and the condition has manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more. Service connection is granted for fibromyalgia on a presumptive basis. The Veteran's reported fatigue was not objectively verified, and service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and hypertension have been granted service connection, with the former being characterized as a new and material condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for both Lyme disease and fibromyalgia, finding that there was no current disability of either condition at the time of his claim. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome, finding that these conditions are due to medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses related to the Veteran's Persian Gulf War service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back pain and fibromyalgia are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or immediately following service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's symptoms of lumbar strain with DDD and disc bulge are intertwined with her service-connected fibromyalgia, making it impossible to assign a separate evaluation without violating the rule against pyramiding.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for fibromyalgia, and thus the claim must be denied.