Houston VA Benefits Attorney – Fibromyalgia Disability Claims
Fibromyalgia is a very serious condition prevalent among Gulf War veterans as well as nearly 20 percent of the general population. And since returning from your military service, you may have experienced flare-ups of fatigue, widespread pain and or stiffness and persistent tenderness in multiple areas of the body; this is characterized as fibromyalgia, and its exact causes are unknown.
Nonetheless, veterans suffering from fibromyalgia may qualify for disability compensation with the Veterans Affairs (VA). Unfortunately, working through the VA processes for your benefits is often a complicated and frustrating affair. For this reason, if you have fibromyalgia and need disability benefits, then call Houston VA benefits attorney William Herren as soon as possible. With the help and legal representation at Herren Law, we will walk you through every step of the VA disability claims process, helping you secure the benefits that you rightfully deserve. For a free, no-obligation consultation with attorney Herren, call our Houston TX law firm today at (713) 682-8194.
Symptoms and Causes of Fibromyalgia
According to Title 38 § 3.317 – compensation for certain disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses, the “VA will pay compensation in accordance with chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, to a Persian Gulf veteran who exhibits objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability, provided that such disability:
Manifested during active military, naval, or air service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, or to a degree of 10 percent or more not later than December 31, 2006
By history, physical examination, and laboratory tests cannot be attributed to any known clinical diagnosis”
Fibromyalgia is considered one of these “qualifying chronic disabilities,” and it is characterized by unexplained, widespread pain throughout the body, generally persisting longer than 3 months. Although the specific cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, it has been linked to repetitive injuries, physical and emotional trauma, stress, and infections.
Some symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
- Chronic pain in the muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues
- Tender “trigger points” on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic headache
- Impaired memory and concentration
- Morning muscle stiffness
- And others…
VA Benefits for Fibromyalgia Disability Claims
When determining your benefits for a service-connected condition, the VA provides a disability rating. With regards to fibromyalgia (Code 5025), if the pain is constant and resistant to treatment, then the VA may give a 40% disability rating. If the pain is not constant, but recurring and present 1/3 of the time, then the VA may give a 20% disability rating. If the victim requires continuous medication to control the symptoms, then the VA often provides a disability rating of at least 10%. This disability rating, in combination with other factors, guides how much the VA will provide every month.
Furthermore, the VA provides Gulf War veterans with several other potential benefits, including a Gulf War Registry health exam, Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, and health care. Dependents and survivors may also be eligible for benefits as well.
Contact Herren Law for Legal Representation Today
As the leading Veterans benefits attorney in the Houston area, we at Herren Law are compassionate toward our veterans and will do everything under Texas and federal laws to provide a smooth, stress-free, and streamlined disability claims process. We will stand by you throughout the entire VA benefits claims process with expert legal guidance and consultation, and if necessary, we will represent your case in front of the VA. For a free, no-obligation consultation with attorney William Herren, call our Houston law office today at (713) 682-8194.
