Fibromyalgia decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claimed disabilities have not been linked to his military service and are attributed to known clinical diagnoses. The Board denied the claim for service connection as there is no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability that became manifest during active duty or within a prescribed presumptive period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for fibromyalgia is remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and obtaining medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether fibromyalgia is proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and noting that the Veteran does not have fibromyalgia. The decision also noted that the Veteran has other diagnosed conditions such as degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia and left anterior tibial strain do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities, as he can still perform daily activities with assistance when needed.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and IBS have been granted increased ratings, while his PTSD claim remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome as due to Gulf War service based on the lack of evidence showing these conditions manifested to a degree of 10% or more within one year after separation from service. The Veteran's private physician provided an opinion linking these conditions to his military service, but the Board found this opinion insufficient without supporting medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been withdrawn. Service connection for GERD and migraine/tension headaches, both secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder, is granted.,Service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease, status post anterior fusion, radiculopathy right upper extremity, and right hand tremors, all claimed as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The appeal for a TDIU rating is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's dysarthria is related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and has been granted service connection.,Service connection for fibromyalgia, scleroderma, Raynaud’s syndrome, and loss of reproductive organs is denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's time in service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected fibromyalgia (claimed as fatigue and muscle pain due to a Gulf War environmental hazard) is denied because the evidence does not show that he filed a new and material claim before February 8, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and fibromyalgia are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diffuse interstitial fibrosis and fibromyalgia due to the death of the appellant.

The Board dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and rating for various knee conditions, surgical scars, and TDIU due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, anxiety disorder, headaches, a head scar, and fibromyalgia have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during his June 2019 Board hearing.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected headaches has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's arthritis and fibromyalgia were not shown to have started during service or be related to any in-service injury, disease, or exposure. His headaches were also not found to be related to service or his service-connected nasal fracture.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and related symptoms are rated at 40 percent effective October 28, 2014 through September 27, 2016, then 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left foot and right foot disabilities due to insufficient information in the record regarding these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's thoracic outlet syndrome is secondary to her service-connected fibromyalgia. The VA needs to verify if the Warrior Leader Course was during active duty for training or inactive duty for training and obtain an addendum opinion from a clinician on whether the thoracic outlet syndrome is aggravated by fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected inflammatory arthropathy. The case is remanded for a new VA examination and rating decision on the initial rating claim and TDIU issue.