Fibromyalgia decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have fibromyalgia, tinnitus, or bilateral hearing loss. For PTSD, the rating assigned is 50 percent prior to February 25, 2017, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter, which means the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been reopened and is currently rated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, IBS, lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, chondromalacia of the left knee, tinnitus) preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA opinion regarding whether fibromyalgia is related to service, including muscle pains in service. The Veteran's representative also requested an opinion from a specialist physician, preferably a rheumatologist.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which is considered a direct service connection case due to his active duty in the Persian Gulf. His disability manifests to at least a 10% level and he meets the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for GERD. The issue of service connection for fibromyalgia, formerly claimed as osteopenia and due to Gulf War syndrome, is dismissed as it was resolved by a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been granted service connection as a qualifying chronic disability due to an undiagnosed illness under the provisions for Persian Gulf veterans. The claim for an undiagnosed illness is pending and will be addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for fibromyalgia has not been received. The preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claim, thus denying the reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and fibromyalgia were not caused by his service.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and idiopathic hypersomnia syndrome as presumptively due to the Veteran's active duty service in the Gulf War.

The Board granted service connection for pes planus and Barrett's esophagus with GERD, denied service connection for PTSD, fibromyalgia, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, erectile dysfunction, a dental condition for treatment purposes, and a dental condition for compensation.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for migraines since the effective date of service connection, August 19, 2013. The earlier effective date claim for fibromyalgia is denied.

The Board denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes, eczema, fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, GERD, back disability, and knee disability. The Veteran's claim for diabetes was reopened due to new evidence submitted after the December 2013 denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia and thoracic spine disorder, including ankylosis, are service connected. The decision is in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's residuals of Lyme disease with fibromyalgia symptoms are rated at 40 percent disabling since May 31, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart disability was withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, irritable bowel syndrome, a cervical spine disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, and PTSD are denied. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by joint pain and osteoarthritis, to include fibromyalgia; thoracolumbar back and cervical spine disabilities; bilateral leg disability; right and left knee disabilities (other than service-connected left knee scars); an abdominal or gastrointestinal disability; respiratory disability (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis). Therefore, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current autoimmune disorder, and her claimed fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are secondary to her service-connected endometriosis with pelvic pain syndrome. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a current thyroid disability or muscle disability in the pelvis and back area as being related to her service-connected endometriosis.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the receipt of a request for withdrawal prior to the Board issuing a decision.