The Board found that the grant of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was clear and unmistakable error, as the November 2023 VA examination did not meet the criteria for diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome.
The deciding factor: The November 2023 VA examiner's findings did not meet the requirements for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome under 38 C.F.R. § 4.88(a)(2), as there was no debilitating fatigue that reduced daily activity levels to less than 50 percent of pre-illness level, and only three of the listed symptoms were found.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 7, 2025
- Citation
- A25031762
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 asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 60 percent disability rating for chronic fatigue syndrome and a 30 percent disability rating for sinusitis, while remanding the claims for service connection for an ovarian condition and increased ratings for tension headaches.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 23, 2022, for the award of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome.
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