Fibromyalgia decisions — 2022

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for anxiety disorder as moot because it was granted in a previous decision. Service connection is granted for fibromyalgia and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for low back strain and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating for her low back disability, as she had not demonstrated ankylosis or IVDS with incapacitating episodes. For TDIU, the Veteran met the schedular criteria but failed to show that she is precluded from substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia as secondary to PTSD, but denied service connection for right hip and low back disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his service in the Gulf War and meeting the criteria for a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of a secondary service connection theory for OSA related to fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and fibromyalgia due to inadequate etiological opinions in the March 2016 VA examination. The AOJ is required to obtain updated medical records, conduct further examinations, and provide additional opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for hypercholesterolemia.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied as there is insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis and no link to service or an undiagnosed illness.,There is no current left index finger scar, and the Veteran's complaints are not supported by medical evidence.,The Veteran's left hip disability is less likely related to service. The examiner found it was due to peripheral vascular disease (PVD) of the left iliac artery.,A temporary total evaluation for convalescence from surgery for a service-connected disability is denied as there is no service-connected disability upon which to base this claim.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to heart disease is remanded for additional examination and opinion.,Service connection for CFS secondary to obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and chronic fatigue as a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness are granted. The Veteran's fibromyalgia and memory loss are remanded for further examination.,Service connection is granted for sleep apnea, but the issues of service connection for chronic fatigue (as a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness), fibromyalgia, and memory loss remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment history during the appeal period, despite meeting the schedular requirements for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining information about the qualifications of VA clinicians and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's IBS, dyspepsia, Barrett's esophagus without dysplasia, and esophageal reflux have been granted service connection as they are related to his active duty service.,The Veteran's tension headaches have also been granted service connection as they are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue symptoms and fibromyalgia are granted as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy, and the Veteran's fibromyalgia is also granted due to its presumptive connection based on his Persian Gulf veteran status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 17, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence is factually ascertainable and tends to show that he was unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened, and additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of his PTSD, headaches, right ear hearing loss, CFS, fibromyalgia, IBS, GERD, sleep apnea, and TBI. The Veteran also has new claims for service connection for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the initial rating claims for heart disorder and scar, left upper chest. The Veteran's tension headaches have been granted service connection. Service connection is also sought for muscle and joint pain (fibromyalgia), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and hypothyroidism. These issues are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone or in combination, did not preclude her from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's employment conditions from January 23, 2007 were consistent with those of a marginal or protected employment situation due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from January 23, 2007.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, headache/migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, erectile dysfunction, fibromyalgia, and lumbar spine disability due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The cases are remanded as they remain on the merits.