Fibromyalgia Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and for additional development of his medical records.

Service connection for IBS, as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, is granted. Service connection for headaches, left arm condition, left wrist condition, right index finger injury, lower back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right eye condition are denied. Service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, both as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, are also denied.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for fibromyalgia, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), gastrointestinal disorder, and left upper extremity disorder as secondary to service-connected PTSD. Additional development is needed including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination for knee disabilities, and providing an addendum opinion regarding GERD and cervical radiculopathy.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been remanded for a new examination to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's right knee DJD and meniscus injury, fibromyalgia, right ankle strain, lumbar spine osteoarthritis with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and cervical spine DDD with right and left upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted ratings from specific dates. The Veteran is also receiving separate compensable ratings for instability and scars related to the right knee.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus has been granted, with a maximum of 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings for right-ear hearing loss and PTSD have not been addressed as they are already at the highest possible rating under VA regulations. The claim for service connection for left-ear hearing loss is reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial in August 2007, but no specific rating has been assigned yet. The claims for cervical spine disorder and low back disorder have been granted with a maximum of 40 percent under Diagnostic Code 5025. The claim for erectile dysfunction remains pending.

The claims for service connection for scarring alopecia (claimed as hair loss) and PTSD have been rendered moot due to the complete grant of benefits. The remaining issues, including sleep apnea, vestibular disorder other than vertigo, TBI, fibromyalgia, back disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, eye disorder, respiratory disorder, hypertension, and skin disorder other than scarring alopecia, are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues on appeal, including service connection claims for various disabilities and an initial rating for fibromyalgia. The effective date of service connection for fibromyalgia is granted as May 13, 2010.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and an incorrect diagnosis by a VA examiner. The Veteran's fibromyalgia is being reviewed again with additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions, and thus service connection is denied for all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for fibromyalgia and GI disorder due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service symptoms and his current conditions.

Service connection is granted for irritable bowel syndrome. The issues of service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleeplessness (undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness), depression, and jaw disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted service connection, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric and psychogenic pain disorder (claimed as PTSD, chronic pain syndrome, and muscle stiffness) is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for fibromyalgia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the initial rating for tinnitus is denied as there is no legal basis to award a higher schedular evaluation. The issues of service connection for fibromyalgia, CFS, headaches, CTS, restless leg syndrome, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability, bilateral foot and toe disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral elbow disability, and fibromyalgia as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand several cases due to the receipt of additional medical evidence. The Veteran is required to provide information about all healthcare providers who have treated him for his disabilities, and VA will attempt to obtain these records.

The Board has denied the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' disease, and hypertension. The claim of service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for fibromyalgia is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and an opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.