Fibromyalgia decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral knee disability are denied. The Veteran's claims for initial ratings greater than 10 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to her service in Southwest Asia and meets the criteria of a qualifying chronic disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions such as cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, bilateral knee and hip disabilities, sleep apnea, headaches, and digestive disorders. The reasons for these remands include insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the claimed conditions and the Veteran's military service.,The issues of service connection are being addressed due to a lack of sufficient evidence or reasoning provided by VA examiners in previous examinations.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder), recurrent kidney stones, and low back disability are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded a TDIU.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was reduced from a 40 percent to a 20 percent rating, effective October 1, 2016.,The Veteran's muscle tension headaches were granted a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, OSA, fibromyalgia, CFS, GERD, and acne, all claimed as secondary to PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis with mechanical arthritis, heart attack with thrombosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia as they are not related to active military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, left hip condition, right hip condition, sinusitis, neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and neuropathy of the left upper extremity, were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The issues of service connection are being remanded due to insufficient opinions provided in previous evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of chronic diarrhea is granted, and he is awarded an initial 30 percent disability rating. The service connection claims for fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness, joint pain and muscle pain (fibromyalgia), and respiratory condition are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran’s hypertension to service, and determined that he could perform sedentary employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is currently rated at 20 percent, effective June 7, 2010.,The Veteran's GERD has been restored to a rating of 30 percent since May 1, 2018.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for insomnia, right knee condition, and bilateral shoulder pain is granted.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a right foot condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of service connection for fibromyalgia, OSA, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities. The Veteran's claim for fibromyalgia was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that supports this condition. Service connection for PTSD has been granted based on an in-service stressor related to fear of hostile military activity. OSA and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities remain under remand for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was granted a 20 percent rating prior to August 19, 2016 and denied any increase in rating after that date.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia is currently rated at 40 percent from August 19, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current fibromyalgia diagnosis is related to his service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if there is a link between his in-service symptoms and his current condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.,Service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder was denied. The Board found that the preexisting condition did not worsen during active service.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim was denied as there is no evidence of its onset in service, and it is not related to his service-connected psychiatric disability.,Service connection for fibromyalgia was denied because the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no service connection was granted for migraine headaches.