Fibromyalgia decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for right and left knee disabilities, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea have been reopened. The Board has determined that further medical examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and issues related to service connection, rating decisions, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information and need for updated VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination.

The Board has found that the Veteran's fibromyalgia and migraines are related to service, but more evidence is needed for a final decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea syndrome with CPAP, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was granted, while her claim for diabetes remained denied. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a pain disorder (fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome), an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, insomnia, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood), and a skin disorder (idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis).,There is no evidence to support the presence of these conditions during service or due to any in-service event. The VA examiners concluded that none of the diagnoses met the criteria for PTSD, and the appellant's symptoms were not consistent with other diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective July 15, 2013. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to this date remains pending.,The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU since July 15, 2013.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The claims for right shoulder disability, bilateral foot disability (claimed as a bilateral foot infection), fibromyalgia, respiratory disability, and gastritis with hiatal hernia are all remanded due to insufficient evidence on their merits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was granted with an effective date of October 15, 2008. From January 17, 2014, the Veteran is now assigned a disability rating of 40 percent for his fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and Raynaud's syndrome due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, left knee retropatellar syndrome with mild instability and decreased mobility, and migraine headaches are all granted. The effective dates for these grants are July 23, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted.

The Veteran's GERD with Barrett’s esophagus is rated at 10 percent, and his fibromyalgia was initially rated at 20 percent prior to May 20, 2010, and then increased to 40 percent effective September 21, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.,Additional examination is required to determine if the Veteran’s unspecified depressive disorder is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s headaches are due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's sleep disturbance (including sleep apnea and insomnia) claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s athlete's foot is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia with bilateral leg pain claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s hypertension is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's right knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's left knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's skin rash on face and head claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's missing service medical records and conduct further examinations to address his claims for various joint, muscle, neurological, cardiovascular, hearing, and tinnitus conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for non-degenerative arthritis and fibromyalgia, both of which are related to herbicide exposure. The case is returned for further development including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and secondary service connection. The main issue is that the claim for cervical fibrositis was previously denied but new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorder, and multi-joint and muscle pain due to potential new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and higher evaluations for thoracic spondylosis with ankylosing spondylitis, finding no current diagnosis of fibromyalgia and insufficient evidence to grant a higher rating for thoracic spondylosis.