Fibromyalgia decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's claimed fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied because he does not meet the DSM-5 criteria for a current PTSD disability. The claim for TDIU is also denied due to lack of response from the Veteran and insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and associated ratings due to insufficient evidence regarding when fibromyalgia and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy first manifested.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia on a direct basis and remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to May 12, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a fatigue condition, to include fibromyalgia, finding that there was no current diagnosis of such disability. The appeal is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia should be remanded to allow for a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, costochondritis, prostate condition, and left knee disability due to a duty to assist error. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence considered.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the disability rating for fibromyalgia, which was previously granted but with a reduced rating. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's appeals for pneumonia, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and hemorrhoids have been dismissed. The appeal to reopen his psychiatric disorder claim has been granted. The remaining claims are remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's increased rating claims and claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be impacted by these other claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Multiple issues were remanded, including heart disorder, prostate disorder, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorder, headache disorder, skin disability, sinus disorder with allergies, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, gout, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% disabling, making the TDIU issue moot as he is already receiving a total disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia and amputation of the right 3rd digit was denied. The Veteran also had his tinnitus rating denied, but he received a grant for a 20 percent rating for bilateral dry eye condition with epiphora due to sinusitis.,Other issues were remanded or granted, including an increased rating for sinusitis and service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and an unspecified depressive disorder were denied, as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions. The claim for increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for cholelithiasis, irritable bowel syndrome, and dyspepsia with right upper quadrant pain was also denied.

Service connection is granted for fibromyalgia, right and left hand disabilities, and right and left little, long, index, ring fingers, and thumbs. Service connection is denied for painful joints, degenerative arthritis, respiratory disorder (other than service-connected allergic rhinitis), muscle pain, gynecological disability (other than service-connected scars status post laparoscopy for ovarian cyst), left toe fracture, left foot and toe condition, right foot and toe condition, dizziness, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an examination and medical opinion regarding the nature of any current right foot disability and its relationship to service or service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, basal cell carcinoma, and fibromyalgia. The case will be remanded to obtain necessary medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches, service connection for fibromyalgia, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities were all denied. The Board found that the schedular ratings adequately reflected the Veteran's symptoms and there was no evidence of an extraschedular rating for his migraines. Service connection for fibromyalgia was also denied as there was no in-service diagnosis or link to service, and the medical evidence did not support a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for inflammatory polyarthritis, secondary to his service-connected gastrointestinal disorder (also claimed as IBS), has also been granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU prior to March 2, 2020. However, due to his consistent contention of being unable to work since 2011 and the evidence showing he was capable of maintaining substantially gainful employment despite not meeting the schedular requirement, a remand is required to refer the matter to the VA Director of Compensation Services for an extraschedular consideration.