The Veteran's undiagnosed illness characterized as fibromyalgia is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5025. No separate ratings are warranted for irritable bowel syndrome or headaches.
The deciding factor: The disability is rated based on its symptoms and manifestations, with a 40% rating being the highest possible under Diagnostic Code 5025, which specifically includes symptoms of fibromyalgia such as widespread pain, stiffness, fatigue, paresthesias, headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- undiagnosed illness characterized as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel symptoms, headache, general fatigue, chronic multisymptom joint pain of the upper and lower extremities, chronic cough
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 27, 2018
- Citation
- 18122029
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18122029.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for PTSD and a chronic cough are being remanded due to an error in providing notice of the right to a hearing before the RO.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations regarding his claimed conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations regarding his claimed conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic cough disability was granted with an effective date of January 1, 2002. This decision is based on the addition of relevant service department records that were not considered in prior decisions.
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