Fibromyalgia decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a diagnosis prior to or during the period on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and asthma, has been remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding its relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted, while her claims for low back condition, IBS, and fibromyalgia remain denied.,An initial rating of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in March 2018 are insufficient for adjudicating the service connection claims. The Veteran's current disabilities are associated with his active duty, and further examination is needed to determine if any of these conditions clearly and unmistakably pre-existed his service or were aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including malaria and its residuals, chloracne, cataracts, knee disabilities, jaw glands, polyps, cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, diverticulitis, diabetes mellitus type II, fibromyalgia, lumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD prior to July 23, 2018, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter is dismissed.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is granted.,An earlier effective date for a 40% disability rating for fibromyalgia is sought.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an all-joint degenerative condition other than Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The claims for service connection for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and fibromyalgia are denied as there is no evidence showing they were incurred during or related to her active service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and higher ratings for fibromyalgia and psychiatric disabilities before the Board could make a decision. As such, these appeals are dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, IBS, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a respiratory disorder were denied as there was no evidence of a direct connection to service.

Service connection granted for GERD, fibromyalgia, and OSA.,An increased rating of 10 percent for the service-connected headache disability from December 15, 2016 to March 8, 2018 is granted.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted an initial rating of 40 percent, and a separate compensable rating of 30 percent for headaches. The lumbosacral spine disability remains at 20 percent, while the cervical spine disability is denied any increase beyond the current 10 percent.

Service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and migraine headaches has been granted.,The claims of service connection for osteoarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and anemia have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for essential tremors and TDIU prior to April 17, 2019. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU from April 17, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, neck, knee, and stomach conditions. The cases are being returned to provide VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board dismissed the claims for erectile dysfunction, denied the claims for fibromyalgia and CFS, and denied the claims for headaches and neck disability. The claim for a TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for urinary tract infections (UTIs) was also denied, with the Board noting that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis or symptoms causing functional impairment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of fibromyalgia, resulting in the dismissal of this claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia and ulcer disability due to incomplete development of evidence, including obtaining private treatment records from E.A. Conway Hospital and other providers, scheduling VA examinations, and ensuring that VA had satisfied its duty to assist in obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's vertigo is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids prior to April 20, 2019 has been granted. A 10 percent rating is assigned from April 20, 2019 onwards.,An effective date of January 28, 2014, is granted for the 40 percent disability rating for fibromyalgia. The Veteran's right knee disability and sinusitis are denied initial ratings in excess of their current ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and an initial compensable rating for rhinitis, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or etiology related to his service.

The Veteran's neck disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected residuals of post-operative fusion, spondylolysis with spondylolisthesis, L5-S1, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). The Veteran's bladder dysfunction is granted at a 40 percent rating prior to December 30, 2016. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.