Fibromyalgia decisions — 2018

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is found to be service connected as secondary to his already service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, muscle contraction headaches, headache disorder (including migraine headaches), elbow and forearm disorder, wrist and hand disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral foot disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was rated at a 40 percent disability rating from February 25, 2013 to the present.,Effective April 1, 2018, the Veteran is granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, encompassing all her listed conditions as part of the grant for fibromyalgia/polyarthralgia. The specific disabilities are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The symptoms are constant or nearly so and refractory to therapy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia had its onset during service and is related to her service-connected PTSD, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and a total disability rating were denied. The Board found that the effective date for service connection of degenerative changes to both knees with fibromyalgia should be March 26, 2009.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the increased rating claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and tinnitus. He also withdrew his service connection claim for fibromyalgia.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for fibromyalgia, a qualifying Persian Gulf War disability that became manifest during her active duty and is currently rated at 10%.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, fatigue, and headaches have been denied as new and material evidence has not been presented.,Service connection for a skin disorder and GERD is not granted due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine if fibromyalgia had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been characterized by constant or near constant widespread pain, tender points, stiffness, weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and paresthesias. The Board granted a 40% evaluation for the condition.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is not due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability, and her eye condition (bilateral cataracts) is not related to service connection.,Her sinusitis and sleep apnea are less likely than not caused by or resulting from military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exacerbations of System Lupus Erythematous (SLE) and a need for an addendum opinion from the February 2017 examiner. The issue of entitlement to higher initial disability ratings or separate compensable disability rating for fibromyalgia is also on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's fibromyalgia and arthritis were not incurred in service or caused by a service-connected disability. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between her current symptoms and her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of joint disease, parasympathetic autonomic dysfunction, fibromyalgia, IBS, heart condition, or respiratory condition. The evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pain syndrome, claimed as fibromyalgia, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia symptoms are not refractory to therapy, and the Board finds that a higher disability rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a current disability of the cervical or lumbosacral spine, and there is no evidence of chronicity within one year after service separation. The Veteran's fibromyalgia was also not incurred in service.