Fibromyalgia decisions — 2017

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury and its residuals, as well as for fibromyalgia as secondary to traumatic brain injury. The case is remanded for a VA examination to address the etiology of fibromyalgia.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an undiagnosed illness or a chronic multi-system illness related to his service in the Middle East. The evidence shows multiple diagnoses and symptoms, but no single diagnosis can be attributed to Gulf War Syndrome.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and fibromyalgia, as well as whether these conditions are related to service or other disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left shoulder and left hip pain are manifestations of fibromyalgia, which is linked to service. Therefore, it grants service connection for fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for sacroiliitis and fibromyalgia.,Specifically, the Veteran contends that her sacroiliitis is related to a broken tailbone in service and her service-connected chronic pelvic pain with dyspareunia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tiredness/fatigue, fibromyalgia, and sinusitis were granted. The decision did not specify a rating or effective date as the issues are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (secondary to diabetes and/or PTSD), alcoholism (secondary to PTSD), joint pain (including fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis) (secondary to PTSD), gastrointestinal condition (secondary to PTSD), initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, and initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD have all been denied. The Veteran's service treatment records are silent for complaints or findings of hearing loss, asbestosis, hypertension, alcoholism, joint pain, gastrointestinal condition, diabetes mellitus, or CAD.

The Veteran's headache disorder is found to have had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome and joint pain/fibromyalgia are not due to undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, but the Board finds that they may be related to her service-connected PTSD with MDD. The respiratory disorder (allergic rhinitis) is also not due to undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board has denied service connection for dermatitis herpetiformis, peripheral neuropathy (originally claimed as fibromyalgia), and ventricular tachycardia. The Veteran's claim of service connection for these conditions is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia and patellofemoral syndrome (left) and (right) do not preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, fibromyalgia, and right shoulder strain have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's muscle weakness, left leg, residual of left groin injury is currently rated at 10 percent and no higher. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of this level.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims. The claim of service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, neurological disorder, and right ankle disability has been denied. The claim seeking an effective date earlier than November 30, 2010, for the grant of service connection for a right ankle disability has also been denied. The Veteran's claim of service connection for fatigue (manifested by chronic fatigue syndrome) was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for skin disorder and multi-joint pain (fibromyalgia) are denied. Service connection for a sleep disorder (manifested by sleep apnea) is also denied. The Veteran's headaches, right elbow disability, intermittent diarrhea, and right ankle disability have all been assigned the lowest possible rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is presumed to have been incurred as a result of his active service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for skin disability and CAD are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudicative action due to unassociated VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia, including residuals of a right ankle disability, is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, fibromyalgia, and IBS, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia is due to Gulf War Syndrome and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are service-connected as they have been manifest to a degree of at least 10 percent under the rating criteria for these disabilities, given his service in the Persian Gulf.

The Veteran's mood disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.