Fibromyalgia decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran is a Persian Gulf Veteran and remands for further examination to determine if service connection can be granted for fibromyalgia and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's headaches and sleep apnea were found to have onset during service, warranting direct service connection. Service connection for fibromyalgia was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, but denied claims for osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. The decision also remanded several issues including the rating of ankle sprains.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for fibromyalgia has been denied as the first diagnosis was in August 2013.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection related to Gulf War exposure have been remanded and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, as well as his request for a combined disability rating of 60 percent effective June 21, 2001. The issues have been referred to the AOJ for consideration of CUE in a November 1991 rating decision regarding service connection for right hip and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for clothing allowances for bilateral knee braces, a cane and a walker is denied because the knee braces were prescribed for her non-service-connected arthritis and do not cause wear and tear to her clothing.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left carpal tunnel release, bilateral eye disorders, PTSD, fibromyalgia, hemorrhoids, and seasonal allergies. The Veteran will need additional examinations and evaluations for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding fibromyalgia, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and headaches. The appeal for an initial compensable rating for status post left forearm injury residuals was also withdrawn.

The claims for service connection for low back disability, left foot nerve disability, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), fibromyalgia, and migraine headaches are all granted.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on the presumption of exposure to Gulf War service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, a back condition, Raynaud’s symptoms, and idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all remaining issues, including those related to increased ratings and service connection. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, bilateral shoulder disability, left hip degenerative arthritis, right hand and left hand degenerative arthritis, right knee derangement and instability, and left knee derangement and instability. The reasons given were that there was no in-service injury or disease linked to these conditions, and the Veteran did not serve in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including fibromyalgia, malaria, brucellosis, Coxiella burnetii, chronic fatigue syndrome, mycobacterium tuberculosis, sleep apnea, angina pectoris, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), amyloidosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chloracne, and hemorrhage as there is no probative evidence of current disabilities for any period on appeal.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia with a chronic pain syndrome is granted service connection due to the presumptive provisions for Persian Gulf War veterans. Service connection for fatigue (claimed as CFS) and seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for fibromyalgia and dysmenorrhea and dysfunctional uterine bleeding are denied as the evidence does not support a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the maximum disability rating of 70 percent since October 19, 2015.,Fibromyalgia and right foot chronic chip fracture of the cuboid do not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that there is at least a 50% probability these conditions had their onset during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to a lack of recent medical records and unclear diagnoses in the Veteran's VA treatment records.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and urticaria are granted service connection, with the fibromyalgia receiving a 10% rating. The lumbar strain is remanded for further examination.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for an eating disorder. The remaining issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for new VA examinations.