Fibromyalgia decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the claim for left ankle disorder and granted service connection. Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, muscle twitches, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergic rhinitis, sinus headaches, sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), functional gastrointestinal disorder (chronic diarrhea), and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and gastrointestinal disorder are all granted as service-connected. The claims for fibromyalgia and memory loss have been remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to her service-connected fibromyalgia and muscle tension headaches. The Veteran's TDIU claim from February 24, 2012 to 2015 was denied due to her current employment.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and functional gastrointestinal disorder are presumed to have been incurred during his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination and a need for further evaluation of fibromyalgia.

The claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, a disability manifested by pain in multiple joints, respiratory disability, and hemorrhoids have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and a low back disability due to insufficient medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his cervical spine and right upper extremity conditions, as well as service connection for various other disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, but has remanded the issues of left shoulder disorder and fibromyalgia/polymyalgia rheumatica due to lack of evidence. The lumbar spine issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's emergency medical treatment at a non-VA hospital was granted as the delay in seeking immediate care would have been hazardous to her health due to her severe pain condition, and no feasible VA facility was available.

The Board dismissed the appeals for reopening previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for hair loss and fibromyalgia. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was reopened.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for fibromyalgia and back disability due to new VA examinations and opinions being required, as well as additional VA treatment records. The issue of urinary frequency is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right knee arthralgia, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, bronchitis, asthma, cardiovascular condition, gastrointestinal disability, skin disability, hair loss, neurologic symptoms in the upper extremities, and pulmonary vascular disease. The decision also granted an initial 20 percent rating for plantar fascial fibromatosis with hammertoe right foot and left foot starting December 21, 2016.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, a VA examination is needed to determine if he currently has a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied as there is no current diagnosis or established link between the condition and military service.,A VA examination is required to assess whether the Veteran has allergic rhinitis that may be related to his active duty service. The June 2015 VA opinion was based on a single bout of allergic rhinitis, which does not meet the criteria for chronic disability.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its relationship to military service. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active duty service.,The claim for service connection for GERD secondary to IBS remains in dispute, with a June 2015 VA examiner concluding that there is no causal or aggravating relationship. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed to resolve this issue.,Service connection for a headache disability is remanded as the Veteran claims his symptoms began during service but there is conflicting evidence regarding its onset and etiology.,The claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) remains in dispute. The June 2015 VA examiner found no link between CFS and military service, with a new examination and opinion needed to determine if the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, and a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder and social phobia (PTSD) was also granted. Claims for lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability were denied, while fibromyalgia was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder and fibromyalgia have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was granted. Service connection for lumbosacral spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia due to potential environmental exposure during his Southwest Asia deployment. The Veteran must provide releases for any care providers who may have relevant evidence, and he will be scheduled for examinations related to these conditions.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted service connection, and the initial evaluation for asbestosis remains at 10 percent.