The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, left great toe disability, and low back disability was granted. The Veteran also received a separate noncompensable rating for his left foot hammertoes and an initial compensable rating for his left hip skin disability. However, the Veteran's request for higher ratings for his right shoulder disability, headaches, and sleep apnea were not addressed.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence supported service connection for fibromyalgia due to its chronic nature and onset during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The left great toe disability was rated based on painful motion under Diagnostic Code 5280, which allows for a compensable rating. The Veteran's low back disability received an initial compensable rating prior to November 20, 2020 and denied since then.
- Claimed conditions
- fibromyalgia, exostosis interphalangeal joint of the left great toe (left great toe disability), hammer toes on the left third and fourth toe, contusion of the left hip upper gluteal (left hip skin disability), low back strain with degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (low back disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 18, 2022
- Citation
- 22064692
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 22064692.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia, and vertigo. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ did not obtain all necessary opinions regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI). The claims for service connection for fatigue, fibromyalgia, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, and sleep disorder are remanded for further development.
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