The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for chronic fatigue syndrome, as the Veteran's symptoms are near-constant and restrict routine daily activities by less than 25 percent of the pre-illness level.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lay testimony directly refutes findings that his symptoms do not significantly impact his daily activities, equating to a restriction of routine daily activities by less than 25 percent of the pre-illness level, which meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating under DC 8863-6354.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25042790
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and denied higher ratings for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and lumbosacral strain. However, the Board granted initial 20 percent ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, and sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for allergic rhinitis and lumbosacral or cervical strain was dismissed due to untimeliness, while the other issues were remanded for further evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the exception of remanding certain issues.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as the earliest effective date assignable is August 10, 2022, based on the PACT Act.
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