Fibromyalgia decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for generalized arthritis, gout of the bilateral feet, and fibromyalgia. However, the preponderance of evidence is against granting these claims as there is no established link between any current conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the record. The AOJ will review this additional evidence and readjudicate the cases.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for migraine headaches was granted. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and service connection for fibromyalgia is granted with a rating of 70 percent effective December 11, 2018.,Service connection for COPD and hypertension are both denied. The Veteran's MDD is found to aggravate his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including vision, thyroid, lung, Hepatitis C, high blood pressure, arthritis, fibromyalgia, nail, and liver disabilities are denied. The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection or rating determinations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of fibromyalgia is denied as there was no formal or informal application filed prior to October 23, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied service connection for chronic pain and fibromyalgia, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability or evidence of in-service injury related to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected fibromyalgia, PTSD and/or sinusitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions and that they were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for abscess liver, vertigo, bronchitis, persistent rash, immune disorder, breast lump, left foot pain, right foot pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, joint pains, and muscle pain are remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance was granted from September 19, 2013 to September 29, 2018. The claim for a compensable rating for tinea versicolor prior to April 29, 2019 is denied.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted as due to undiagnosed illness, with a rating of 100%.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating of 50 percent or higher for PTSD has been granted, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, diabetes mellitus type II, and multiple sclerosis as claimed due to in-service PCB exposure. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.,Diabetes mellitus type II was not shown within the applicable presumptive period and continuity of symptomatology is not established.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for fibromyalgia and posttraumatic epilepsy have been dismissed due to the appellant requesting a withdrawal of the claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for undifferentiated tissue disease (claimed as weak muscle tissue), fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. The claims are remanded for further development including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA, fibromyalgia, and CFS due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's sleep disturbances are found not to be a separate disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted as service-connected.,Increased ratings are required for cervical spine DJD, right shoulder arthritis, sarcoidosis, and bilateral pinguecula.,Service connection is denied for fibromyalgia, polyarthritis (claimed as polyarthritis), chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, and sleep disability. Additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's knee scars, right elbow disability, left great toe disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral wrist disability, and bilateral ankle disability are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased evaluations for fibromyalgia, GERD with constipation, and depressive disorder, as well as a TDIU claim. The effective dates for service connection are denied.