Fibromyalgia Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the cervical spine disability and left arm peripheral neuropathy claims, and service connection is granted.

The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and prison records. A VA examination is also required to assess the current severity of PTSD and to determine if any claimed disabilities are related to service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and theories of causation, including service connection for various disabilities allegedly related to poisoning during service. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule appropriate VA examinations, and consider the Veteran's claims in light of his reported exposures.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 100 percent throughout the entire period of the claim, and service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was not service-connected, but her TMJ dysfunction was granted a higher rating and earlier effective date.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is presumed to have been incurred as a result of her service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, including osteoarthritis, is granted based on objective indications of chronic disability resulting from undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for fibromyalgia and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood associated with fibromyalgia are denied. The Board found that the symptoms of both conditions did not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent for fibromyalgia or 50 percent for the mental health condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia is not related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and Graves' disease. The issues of service connection for these conditions are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by her representative, and thus the appeals for all issues have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases for deeming a May 2011 VA medical opinion adequate to decide the claim for entitlement to service connection for fibromyalgia. The Veteran needs a rheumatologist's opinion on whether he has a current diagnosis of fibromyalgia and if it is related to service.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted effective from April 4, 2014. The claim for service connection is now considered substantiated.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for 'undifferentiated' seronegative rheumatoid arthritis has been withdrawn. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and headaches have been remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was diagnosed prior to December 31, 2021 and requires continuous medication for control. The Board grants service connection for fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen the endometriosis was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia and pes planus did not render her unemployable prior to January 28, 2014. The Board denied the earlier effective date claim as there was no evidence of unemployability before that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, pes planus, and fibromyalgia were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic fatigue syndrome and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was rated at 20 percent prior to April 24, 2013 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Board found that the Veteran is not unemployable due solely to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted.