Fibromyalgia Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The TDIU claim is held in abeyance until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's sinusitis/rhinitis, bilateral hip osteopenia with secondary arthralgias, and fibromyalgia/rheumatoid arthritis are not service-connected. However, the Veteran's bilateral hip osteopenia is found to be related to her service-connected residuals of total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo oophorectomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service connected, as there is no competent and probative evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's fibromyalgia warranted a 40% evaluation from August 19, 2013 onwards. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disorder (eczema), and migraine headaches were granted, while the claim for endometriosis was also granted.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is service-connected due to its presumptive relationship with his Gulf War service.,Prior to December 16, 2010, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for chronic headaches.

The Veteran's wife has multiple disabling conditions that require the aid and attendance of another person, qualifying him for SMC benefits. The claims for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to PTSD are denied.

The Veteran's chronic body pain, including fibromyalgia and joint/muscle conditions, were not found to be related to service or an undiagnosed illness. The Board denied the claims for these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia with muscle and joint pain and chronic fatigue syndrome as medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses, presumptively related to the Veteran's Gulf War service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was rated at 20% and is now rated at 40%, the maximum schedular rating, due to constant symptoms that are refractory to therapy.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent and the RO has granted service connection for this condition. The Veteran also received a higher rating of 50 percent for his PTSD from August 26, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a back disability was incorrectly determined to be an orthopedic condition instead of a manifestation of her service-connected fibromyalgia. The effective date for the grant of service connection for fibromyalgia is now set at May 15, 2007, and she is granted an initial rating of 40%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU for the entire appeals period.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for chronic fatigue syndrome as due to an undiagnosed illness with migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia from 100% to 60% was not proper. The reduction of her low back disability rating from 20% to 10% was found to be proper.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal in a statement dated December 3, 2013.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and sleep apnea are presumed to have developed during her active service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue and muscle and joint pain have been denied as they are not related to his active duty service.,There is no evidence of chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia in the Veteran's service records, and both conditions are attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The Veteran's severe body and joint pain, fatigue, restlessness, shortness of breath, and fibromyalgia are attributed to a post-service motor vehicle accident, and the evidence does not support a finding that these current disorders are related to any incident of qualifying service, including his Gulf War service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's fibromyalgia is as likely as not attributable to her active military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.