Fibromyalgia decisions — 2019

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is presumed to have been incurred during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, and therefore, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for fibromyalgia is granted, and the effective date of service connection for CFS and fibromyalgia remains April 3, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, as well as new opinions regarding the etiology of her bruxism, GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), sleep apnea, hypogonadism, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression) have all been denied.,The Board found that there is no evidence indicating a causal relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The case is remanded for further evaluation of hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, bilateral leg condition, bilateral ankle condition, respiratory disability, and psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to missing records from the Moncrief Army Medical Center. Additionally, an SOC is needed on issues of increased ratings for knee conditions, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and service connection for hammertoes, sleep apnea, toe fungus, sinusitis, rhinitis, hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, left forearm disability, right shoulder disability, and right forearm disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that they are related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is granted based on a presumptive basis due to the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology, as the current evidence is insufficient to determine if they are related to her exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active service.

Service connection for fibromyalgia is granted due to its presumptive relationship with service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.,Service connection for a skin condition, claimed as rash, is denied as there is no current evidence of such a condition.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and fibromyalgia, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions based on lack of evidence of current diagnoses or a causal relationship to service.,The Board also found that there was no credible evidence of a diagnosis of fibromyalgia in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for fibromyalgia is granted. The claims for back disability, headache disability, memory loss, and speech disability are reopened.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for fibromyalgia, vertigo, respiratory disability (sinusitis or allergic rhinitis), cardiovascular disability, skin rash, and memory loss is not granted as there is no current disability related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left trapezius muscle disability (myofascial pain syndrome) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including lumbar spine, right hip, left elbow, right elbow, left wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome), and right wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) were remanded due to incomplete records. The VA duty to assist was triggered by the addition of relevant service treatment records.

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD, bilateral cervical myelopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, inflammatory arthritis, fibromyalgia, and allergic rhinitis are all granted service connection. The issue of service connection for a heart disability is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disability and PTSD, was denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to support reopening these claims.,Service connection for fibromyalgia, left knee disability, sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss were also denied.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and asthma have been rated based on their current symptoms. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for either condition as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, polyarthralgia (cervical spine), and polyarthralgia (thoracolumbar spine) based on new evidence received since the last final rating decision. The claim for respiratory disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for numbness in fingers and toes, COPD, bilateral knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and lumbosacral spine disability due to a lack of adequate VA examinations and incomplete medical records. The claims are also remanded for further development related to TDIU.