Fibromyalgia decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence received into the claims file. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an examination of the Veteran, readjudicate the claims based on the additional evidence, and ensure compliance with the recent decision in Stewart v. Wilkie.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and memory loss due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again with a focus on whether they are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, bilateral shoulder disability, right wrist disability, and knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The claims are also being remanded for additional examinations of his lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was withdrawn, and he is granted a 30% rating for chronic sinusitis. His right ear hearing loss disability claim is denied.,Service connection for functional gastrointestinal symptoms, fibromyalgia, bilateral knee disabilities, pseudofolliculitis barbae, bronchitis (chronic cough), chest wall disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded.,TDIU appeal is dismissed. Service connection for erectile dysfunction, sinusitis, lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity nerve disabilities, and TDIU issues are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requests a new VA examination for the Veteran's claimed fibromyalgia, including consideration of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from November 29, 2007 to January 8, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine DDD and fibromyalgia due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and sleep apnea have been granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has also been addressed, with the Veteran receiving a full grant of his reduction request. However, the TDIU claim remains pending as additional evidence was added to the file.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection for PTSD, fibromyalgia, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability has been remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for muscle pain, claimed as fibromyalgia, and denied service connection for a skin disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as he is not unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and shoulder disabilities were denied. The claim for a back disability was not addressed as it is considered part of the service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's fibromyalgia is secondarily caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic diarrhea, respiratory insufficiency, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's private clinician provided a nexus opinion linking the conditions to his Gulf War service, but this opinion lacks supporting details from the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, tension headaches, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been granted. The effective dates are not specified in this decision.,Entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to January 17, 2018 for the grant of service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.

The Veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to service-connected conditions, including fibromyalgia, which affects his ability to walk without the aid of assistive devices. The Board granted eligibility for specially adapted housing based on this disability.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia (claimed as joint pain, muscle pain, fatigue, and a sleep disorder) are denied. The effective date is set at September 16, 2014.

The Veteran's cause of death was identified as ALL, which the appellant contends is related to her Gulf War service. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for DIC benefits due to the appellant's contention regarding exposure to environmental hazards during her Gulf War service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fibromyalgia, and major depressive disorder have been granted. However, the claim for chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded due to insufficient evidence of a diagnosis.,A VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's headaches.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, bilateral knee disability, and right foot heel disability as these conditions are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to the Veteran's active duty military service.,Service connection was also denied for fibromyalgia, tingling and numbness of the upper extremities, UTIs, and pharyngitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.