Fibromyalgia decisions — 2020

The request to reopen the claim for service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.,New and material evidence having been received, reopening of the claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic fatigue syndrome is granted. Entitlement to service connection for mycoplasma infection and thyroid disease/Hashimoto’s disease are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or maintain gainful employment as of August 31, 2006. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from that date.

The Veteran's back disability is granted an increased rating to 20 percent, effective March 21, 2011. The Veteran also received service connection for fibromyalgia and urticaria.

The Board has determined that the grants of service connection for fibromyalgia, mixed migraine-tension type headaches, CFS and impotency were clearly erroneous due to lack of diagnoses.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are caused and aggravated by her service-connected PTSD, fibromyalgia, and anemia.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis related to the Veteran’s reduced sex drive. The claim for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's painful scar on the right wrist warrants a 10 percent disability rating due to its pain but not instability or limitation of function.,The linear scar on the right wrist does not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating as it does not exceed 6 square inches in area and is not unstable or painful.,Anemia has been rated at 10 percent since November 2018, with no evidence of improvement to warrant a higher rating.,Fibromyalgia was previously rated at 20 percent but the Veteran's symptoms do not meet criteria for an increased disability rating as they are present more than one-third of the time and not constant or refractory to therapy.,Lumbar strain has been rated at 20 percent since January 10, 2020. The claim is remanded due to a lack of evidence showing improvement in function.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy was previously rated at 20 percent but the Veteran's symptoms do not meet criteria for an increased disability rating as they are present more than one-third of the time and not constant or refractory to therapy.,Costochondritis has been rated at 30 percent since January 10, 2020. The claim is remanded due to a lack of evidence showing improvement in function.

For the period prior to January 27, 2015, the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.,From January 27, 2015, the Veteran has a combined disability rating of 100 percent due to his service-connected conditions. The issue of TDIU is moot as he already meets the criteria for a 100% schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's fibromyalgia was incurred in service or caused by her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development and clarification of diagnoses, as well as for new VA examinations. The issues include service connection for gastrointestinal disorders, TBI with vertigo and dizziness, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine strain, prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, a chronic disability manifested by nausea, dizziness, hot flashes, and loss of appetite, incontinence, and impotence. The remand requires further development regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was denied as it would violate the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.14, which prohibits granting service connection for a disability that is part and parcel of another condition already in service-connected status.,Ratings for right and left knee disabilities were also denied as they did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest available schedular rating of 70 percent. The ratings for fibromyalgia and IBS have been adjusted to reflect their current status.

The Veteran's tinea unguium, right eye disability, vertigo, polyarthralgia (fibromyalgia), CFS, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and liver condition are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of both feet due to service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and fibromyalgia with chondromalacia of the knees, resolving all doubt in her favor.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran's fatigue and joint pain are presumed to be related to his service in the Gulf War, but an addendum opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are caused by or aggravated by PTSD. Similarly, an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether bipolar disorder is aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been granted service connection. The right shoulder condition, IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded for additional development.,The left knee condition remains pending as it requires an addendum opinion from the June 2014 VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chloracne, hyperhidrosis, fibromyalgia, bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, nasal disability (chronic nose bleeds), and eye disability (blurred vision). The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service or any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea (secondary to other specified and trauma-related disorder), gastrointestinal disability other than GERD, paralysis of the left vocal cord, paralysis of the left hemidiaphragm, syncope, and kidney disability have all been granted. The Veteran is also presumed to have served in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck condition and fibromyalgia as secondary to PTSD. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of in-service injuries and her current diagnoses, with conflicting medical opinions regarding the exact etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for fibromyalgia and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and her military service.