The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue and gingivitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or any other medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and that the Veteran’s symptoms were better explained by his service-connected conditions and non-service-related factors.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners determined that the Veteran's fatigue was not due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, but rather related to sleep disturbances associated with PTSD. The gingivitis was attributed to lack of regular dental care over many years.
- Claimed conditions
- Fatigue, Gingivitis (bleeding gums)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20019673
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20019673.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted.,Service connection for a back disability, fatigue, and sleep apnea are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected restrictive lung disease has been granted.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for fatigue is being remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is related to combat in service and granted service connection.,The Veteran does not have hypertension for VA purposes, thus denial of service connection.,The Veteran's fatigue is attributed to his service-connected fibromyalgia, obstructive sleep apnea, and PTSD, resulting in denial of service connection.,Service connection for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are dismissed due to the Veteran explicitly withdrawing his appeal.,Service connection for a disability manifesting in memory loss other than an acquired psychological disorder is denied as it overlaps with PTSD.,Service connection for myofascial pain syndrome is denied as it overlaps with fibromyalgia.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fatigue, dizziness, and chronic kidney disease secondary to the Veteran's service-connected multiple myeloma due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.
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