The Veteran's costochondritis and fibromyalgia have resulted in widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headaches, irritable bowel symptoms, depression, and anxiety. The disability has been constant and refractory to therapy. The Veteran is already receiving the maximum schedular rating for fibromyalgia.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's fibromyalgia presents with widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points that are resistant to therapy and associated with fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headaches, irritable bowel symptoms, depression, and anxiety. The disability picture is fully consistent with the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating under DC 5025.
- Claimed conditions
- costochondritis, fibromyalgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18158957
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 18158957.
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.
- 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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