Fibromyalgia decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly assess the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU due to conflicting medical evidence and allegations of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's appeals for fibromyalgia, bilateral neurological disability of the upper extremities (likely sciatica), and other service-connected conditions have been dismissed. The issues of higher ratings for lower back and cervical spine disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is about the initial compensable rating for fibromyalgia. The Board has decided to remand this issue due to new evidence and a need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims by the Veteran. The Board also remanded several issues related to PTSD, headaches, cervical strain, and a multi-symptom condition claimed as fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, fibromyalgia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cholelithiasis, and lymphocytosis are all granted as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis B and C.,Service connection is established for cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to service-connected hepatitis B and C. The Veteran's other claims remain pending.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and chronic headaches. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection for the respiratory disorder claimed as an upper airway cough syndrome is also denied.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, both on a schedular and extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical examination and records, and requests that the Veteran provides information about his fibromyalgia symptoms and any relevant treatment. A VA medical examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's fibromyalgia is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and treatment records, requiring further development including obtaining VA treatment records since October 2017 and scheduling a VA examination for fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of legal briefs submitted in January 2017 and August 2017. The Veteran’s attorney requested that both briefs be combined into one decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, chronic gastritis, flat feet, left foot heel spur, right foot heel spur, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, left ankle disability (status post left ankle fracture, status post open reduction internal fixation with degenerative arthritis), right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The claims were remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional VA treatment records being added to the file and the need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding service treatment records, conduct a VA examination for each condition, and issue a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has decided to remand the claims of fibromyalgia, left ankle fracture, and mitral valve prolapse due to insufficient examination reports and lack of information regarding employment impact.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted. The appeal regarding rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the back, hips, wrists and ankles, a left rotator cuff injury, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis of both thumbs, a hiatal hernia, fungus, left great toe and subsequent surgery, and cellulitis, left thigh have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right hip, status-post total hip replacement; chronic right wrist pain; degenerative arthritis of the left hip, including as secondary to nonservice-connected disability of the right hip; flat feet; hepatitis C; residuals of venereal disease (including herpes); and erectile dysfunction have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for chronic sinusitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has had six or more non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year, characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge, warranting a 30 percent disability rating. However, his sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not result in incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or repeated surgeries. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis is related to his service-connected fibromyalgia and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran filed a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding seven service connection claims, and thus remanded these issues for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and failure to consider all relevant medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for joint pain, dizziness, fatigue, fibromyalgia, and memory loss as undiagnosed illnesses or other qualifying chronic disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to CUE in a January 2006 rating decision and the reopening of service connection claims for irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.