The Veteran's claim for service connection for TMJ, GERD, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and left knee tendonitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current diagnoses or causation due to service.,Service connection for TMJ was granted with a 10% rating effective from October 20, 2014 until January 12, 2016 and a 50% rating effective from January 12, 2016. Service connection for left knee tendonitis was denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not provide sufficient objective indications of current diagnoses or causal relationship to service for GERD, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and left knee tendonitis. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed exposure due to Gulf War service, but the VA examiner found insufficient evidence linking these conditions to such exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, left knee tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19131622
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.
- 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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- 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.
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