Fibromyalgia decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if any diagnosed right foot disability is caused by or otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

Service connection for anxiety disorder NOS is granted.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for gastrointestinal problems, seizures, and heart disorders is remanded due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's claims.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for gastrointestinal problems, seizures, and heart disorders is remanded due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's claims.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for herniated discs in neck is remanded due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for left arm disability, fibromyalgia, neurological disorder, and respiratory disorder due to exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf. The appeals are currently pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for fibromyalgia has been denied. The Board has also found that the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 4, 2020 is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU is denied as it is considered a freestanding claim following final decisions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection to PFB, sinusitis, chronic headache disability, left arm disability, fibromyalgia, and gastrointestinal disability (IBS) is granted. The claims for service connection for a left ankle disability other than psoriatic arthritis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and tinnitus are remanded.

The appeal for service connection for depressive disorder is dismissed. A rating in excess of 30 percent for plantar fasciitis with bilateral flat feet is denied, and the issues of service connection for fibromyalgia and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to the need to verify her service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The issues of increased ratings for depression and IBS, as well as effective dates for those ratings, are also remanded. Additionally, a TDIU rating prior to February 15, 2018, and SMC at the housebound rate prior to that date are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, right hip disability, and low back disability due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their etiology. The VA will obtain medical opinions to address whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions during or recent to the pendency of the claim.,There is no current diagnosis of fibromyalgia or CFS in the record, and the Veteran's symptoms have not met the diagnostic criteria for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vision or eye disability, hypertension, fibromyalgia, and sleep apnea were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any diagnosed disabilities related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for right hand fifth finger, hypothyroidism, varicose veins, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and lumbar disability have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Board requests additional examination and opinion from qualified medical professionals.

The Veteran's GERD and tension headaches are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of discharge.,Fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome were also not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 100% rating as of December 18, 2017. Headaches are also granted and linked to his service-connected PTSD.

The claims for service connection for right foot condition, sleep apnea, and fibromyalgia have been denied. The claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and other disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed disabilities due to lack of medical evidence showing a relationship with service.

The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder, along with other disabilities rated at least 60 percent disabling, qualifies him for TDIU and SMC based on housebound status from March 25, 2011. However, he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 2, 2014, for service connection of lupus and fibromyalgia due to outstanding records not being obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his military service and resolving all doubt in his favor.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically whether they can be classified as residuals of organic disease or injury, and their impact on locomotion.