Fibromyalgia decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, occipital neuralgia, and white matter brain disease due to lack of evidence supporting a causal relationship between these conditions and her military service. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of fibromyalgia and granted it, finding that new evidence received since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims due to an untimely notice of disagreement filed on March 6, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia and a stomach disorder (including hiatal hernia, GERD) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and missing service personnel records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, bowel and/or bladder disorder, and endocrine/immune disorder due to additional development being necessary. The claims are related as they all involve secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and remanded the issues of increased ratings for right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbosacral strain. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's dementia claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of dementia.,PTSD with depression service connection is granted based on a diagnosed PTSD and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred during active duty in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder and low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new evidence received after the last supplemental statement of the case (SSOC). The Veteran's cervical spine disability and migraine headaches are being evaluated further.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred during service or as a result of an in-service injury, disease, or event. Therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted due to anoxic brain injury caused by cardiopulmonary arrest, with significant contributing factors of fibromyalgia. The claim for a higher initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for fibromyalgia for accrued purposes is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as they are not yet clear on whether the Veteran's symptoms of fatigue or fibromyalgia are related to service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinion is inadequate and remands for further development, including an addendum opinion to address the Veteran's fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination to address secondary service-connection for degenerative arthritis of various body parts.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including fibromyalgia and various hip, ankle, groin, eye, heart, and other conditions. The VA is required to obtain medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. Service connection is established for irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and fibromyalgia and joint pain.

The Veteran's service connection claim for restless leg syndrome is granted. The claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, fibromyalgia, and hypothyroidism post right hemithyroidectomy are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at a maximum of 20 percent from June 1, 2018 to April 9, 2018 and at a maximum of 50 percent from April 10, 2018 to September 17, 2019. The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records and his VR&E files, as these documents are relevant to the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted with a 20 percent rating, and the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus is denied. Other claims are either denied or remanded.