The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and assigned a 40 percent rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's fibromyalgia was aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability and granted a secondary service connection for it. For the rating period prior to February 21, 2018, the Board determined that the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability more nearly approximated forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less.
- Claimed conditions
- fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, rheumatoid arthritis (implied by fibromyalgia)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18158007
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 18158007.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for fibromyalgia and Gulf War unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, bronchus, as well as an extension of the temporary 100 percent disability evaluation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for scarring, right orchiopexy and remanded the claim of asbestos exposure residuals. Other claims for service connection were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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