Service Connect Fibromyalgia

[Sarahnknapp]

I was discharged from the USAF in 2003 by the MEB for "chronic recurrring stress fractures" for stress fractures in the lower extremities. I have had chronic pain ever since. I was just last week diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (I currently only have a 10% rating) I have medical records from the doctors for all these years of unexplained pain. The doctor at OHSU in Portland (A rheumatologist) has now diagnosed me. Do I have to connect the fibromyalgia to the fractures? How do I do that?

I'd appreciate any suggestions or help. Thank you.

[Pete53]

Welcome to Hadit

You really need Doctors to connect it

[Sarahnknapp]

Hey Pete,

Thank you for the reply. Sorry to be so.........quizative, however how do I get the doctors to connect it? The specialist states on his profile I guess, that he does not take on any claim related cases. And frankly there are not a whole lot of Rheumatologist's running round my area.

Thanks

[Guest]

Thank you for the reply. Sorry to be so.........quizative, however how do I get the doctors to connect it? The specialist states on his profile I guess, that he does not take on any claim related cases. And frankly there are not a whole lot of Rheumatologist's running round my area.

I suggest that you review your records of the doctor that diagnosed you with fibromyalgia, your conditions could already be linked together. Although a rheumatoligist is preferred, you can get an IMO from a Rheumatologist, Neurologist, PCP (Primary Care Provider), or an Internal Medicine Specialist that your fibromyalgia is related to your service or service connected disability. Keep in mind that they will have to review your records and give a good medical rationale of how your conditions/symptoms are related.

[Troy Spurlock]

The fractures have nothing to do with the Fibromyalgia, which is a separate chronic condition.

My best advice to you, which is what I did years ago when I filed my claim for Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS for short), is buy the latest book written by rheumatologists and learn what it is. That way you will be better able to communicate to your C&P examiners and any other doctors what you are going through.

There are often other medical conditions found to co-exhist with Fibromyalgia, so be on the lookout for those too and file for separate claims of service-connected disability. One primary example I can give is Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

The VA likes to lump conditions that overlap but are separate medical conditions into one rating, like FMS; that's what they did with Irritable Bowel Syndrome but I appealed and won at the BVA level having it separated from my FMS rating.

Also, the VA has a 20% and 40% rating for FMS, last I checked, and it is incorrect because the 20% rating is for episodic FMS...and medically there is no such thing because it is defined as a lifelong "chronic" condition. As such, the only logical rating to be given is the 40%.

T.S.

I was discharged from the USAF in 2003 by the MEB for "chronic recurrring stress fractures" for stress fractures in the lower extremities. I have had chronic pain ever since. I was just last week diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (I currently only have a 10% rating) I have medical records from the doctors for all these years of unexplained pain. The doctor at OHSU in Portland (A rheumatologist) has now diagnosed me. Do I have to connect the fibromyalgia to the fractures? How do I do that?

I'd appreciate any suggestions or help. Thank you.

[scorpio89]

Hey there, so I found this forum when I was searching for some information. I would love to chat with you more because I was discharged from the military in 2010 for chronic stress fractures and have had pain ever since, 3 years later here I am still in pain. No answers from doctors, nothing coming up on blood tests. I just saw a rheumatologist a day or so ago and I also live in Portland. I would love to know more about your story! Thanks!!

[usmc89]

I was discharged from the USAF in 2003 by the MEB for "chronic recurrring stress fractures" for stress fractures in the lower extremities. I have had chronic pain ever since. I was just last week diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (I currently only have a 10% rating) I have medical records from the doctors for all these years of unexplained pain. The doctor at OHSU in Portland (A rheumatologist) has now diagnosed me. Do I have to connect the fibromyalgia to the fractures? How do I do that?

I'd appreciate any suggestions or help. Thank you.

Did you serve in Iraq, if so it is a persumtive

Edited February 8, 2013 by usmc89