Fibromyalgia decisions — 2020

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for fibromyalgia is granted. Service connection for shortness of breath as a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including pancreatic disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, low back disorder, bilateral hand and knee disorders, antiphospholipid syndrome, fibromyalgia, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia and remanded the issue of an earlier effective date for a tinea versicolor evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for right hip disability, fibromyalgia, and mixed connective tissue disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if the Veteran’s fibromyalgia and mixed connective tissue disease are related to her active duty service or secondary to her service-connected left hip disability.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia as there was no medical evidence showing a link between the Veteran's current diagnosis and her active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and migraines due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted as it is at least as likely as not that the condition began in service and has persisted since.,The Veteran's kidney cancer claim is denied because there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service, nor any indication that the condition manifested within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded due to the possibility of delayed onset tinnitus and insufficient rationale for the November 2016 VA examiner’s opinion.,The Veteran's left knee disability claim is remanded as there are no medical opinions regarding a nexus between in-service complaints and current disabilities.,The Veteran's right knee disability claim is remanded due to lack of medical evidence addressing the relationship between service and current knee conditions.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is remanded because there is insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and ischemic heart disease claims are both remanded as exposure to herbicide agents in service must be verified before a determination can be made on these claims.,The Veteran's respiratory disability claim is remanded due to the possibility of secondary service connection for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, initial compensable evaluation, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his mixed connective tissue disease and fibromyalgia.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and related secondary claims, as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic pain syndrome, sleep apnea, joint pain (as due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability), and memory loss have been granted. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for joint pain and memory loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headache disorder, which is aggravated by his service-connected fibromyalgia, is related to active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted. Service connection is also established for fibromyalgia, a disability manifested by a loss of vision, bursitis of the left hip, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), cholecystitis status post cholecystectomy, Sjogren’s disease, and Raynaud’s syndrome.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inconsistencies in the VRC evaluation and need for a new assessment of his employment feasibility given his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for additional opinions regarding service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic pain, including a review of exposure to depleted uranium.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 20 percent for fibromyalgia from June 27, 2014 to January 28, 2020. For the period from January 28, 2020, the maximum schedular disability rating of 40 percent is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are related to his service, specifically as an undiagnosed illness. The VA is instructed to schedule a new examination for the Veteran.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of fibromyalgia is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hip, back, and neurological disabilities, as well as his acquired psychiatric and insomnia conditions. These issues are being returned for further development.