Fibromyalgia decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's asthma and sleep disorder claims are remanded due to new evidence received since the April 2015 VA rating decision. The gastrointestinal symptoms claim is also remanded as there has not been a SOC issued for this issue.,Service connection for asthma is being remanded based on presumptive exposure to particulate matter during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Service connection for sleep disorder (including obstructive sleep apnea) is remanded due to new evidence linking it to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions, requiring a new VA examination and opinion on the etiology of fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and fibromyalgia due to a lack of a VA examination addressing any relationship between the claimed disabilities and active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding various disabilities as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including for an increased rating for his service-connected right foot soft tissue tumor and undiagnosed illness with muscle/body pains (fibromyalgia), as well as for TDIU.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted as service-connected due to aggravation by her service-connected autonomic dysfunction with hyperadrenergic POTS. The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is also found to be aggravated by the service-connected POTS, but the Board finds that further development of the claims for bilateral knee disability, all-joint degenerative condition, muscle degenerative condition, fibromyalgia, and eating disorder are required.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for fibromyalgia due to withdrawal. The right shoulder condition, vision deterioration, left hip condition, and right hip condition claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,TDIU from March 13, 2012, was denied as the Veteran has been gainfully employed during this period.,Right ear hearing loss and fibromyalgia were both denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.,Uterine fibroids are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted, with the Board finding that his condition had its onset during his military service and is related to it.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of PTSD, fibromyalgia, and hypothyroidism render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with her education and work history.

The Veteran is seeking additional retroactive VA disability compensation benefits due to receipt of Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) for the period from December 1, 2008 to June 30, 2012. The Board has remanded this case to determine if the Veteran received full amount of VA compensation benefits he was entitled to receive during that time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and inadequate reasons and bases in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for fibromyalgia due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia or another medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lupus, fibromyalgia, visual disturbances, chronic respiratory problems, chronic fatigue syndrome, and Raynaud's syndrome due to in-service exposure or vaccinations. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions regarding these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and clarification of evidence.,Specifically, additional medical opinions are required regarding the etiology of various conditions including cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal degenerative disc disease, right shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, fibromyalgia (Gulf War Illness), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (Gulf War Illness), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Gulf War Illness), and migraine headaches.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and a chronic pain disorder, diagnosed as fibromyalgia and spondyloarthropathy with flaring peripheral joint synovitis, all of which are deemed to be directly related to her active military service.

Entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD with associated depression and anxiety is denied. The Veteran's symptoms are more closely approximated by a 50 percent disability rating.,Entitlement to TDIU is denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his musculoskeletal pain disorders and low back disability. The VA must obtain expert opinions from rheumatologists and other specialists to address these issues.

The Veteran's uterine fibroids and associated conditions are being remanded for further development.,The claim for miscarriage is deferred due to the need for a service connection determination on the underlying condition of uterine fibroids.,The anemia claim is being remanded as there was no current diagnosis during the appeal period, and the relationship between the disability and service-connected conditions needs clarification.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is being remanded to determine if her symptoms are related to service or other factors.,Frostbite residuals in both feet and hands are being remanded for further evaluation of their severity.,Bilateral eye disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for updated examination criteria application.,,