Fibromyalgia decisions — 2018

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is related to her military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee disabilities and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities affecting his lower extremities. However, as he is now eligible for this benefit, the claim for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The 30 percent rating for bilateral glaucoma was granted with an effective date of January 22, 2013.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and IBS. A new VA examination will be scheduled to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been granted a 40 percent disability rating, effective November 28, 2006. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU based on a single service connected disability (PTSD and fibromyalgia).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, neck disability, low back pain, bilateral knee disabilities, cephalgia, hand tremors, restless leg syndrome, and respiratory insufficiency are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychological disability is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (depression and fibromyalgia) prevent her from maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and she meets the schedular requirements for assignment of a TDIU.,Her initial rating for tinnitus remains at 10 percent as there is no basis in the law for awarding a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, bronchitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), all claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness during Gulf War service. The examinations are needed to address the nature of these conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea. The Veteran is now rated at 40 percent for his lumbar strain.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, hypertension, left leg varicose veins, and right leg varicose veins. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding VA medical records and requests the Veteran to provide them. The claims for service connection will be remanded until these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for clarification of her periods of active duty and active duty for training, especially related to her U.S. Army Reserve service from September 1, 1992, to July 1, 1994. Additional information is needed to determine whether she served overseas in the Persian Gulf during this time frame.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further examination. The claims will be reviewed again with the additional information.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The Board found that the additional evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for left elbow disorder was granted, with the claim being reopened but not decided on the merits due to lack of competent medical opinion linking the condition to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, shortness of breath, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and migraine headaches due to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia are remanded as there are outstanding records of treatment received by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, shortness of breath, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and migraine headaches due to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia are remanded as there are outstanding records of treatment received by the Veteran.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has been granted service connection. Service connection for fibromyalgia, acid reflux, and other conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's costochondritis and fibromyalgia have resulted in widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headaches, irritable bowel symptoms, depression, and anxiety. The disability has been constant and refractory to therapy. The Veteran is already receiving the maximum schedular rating for fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding his periods of active duty and Air Force Reserve service, particularly concerning vaccinations he received in 1987. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and complete forms for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to render him unemployable, but further examination is needed for some of the issues.