Houston VA Benefits Attorney – Fibromyalgia Disability Claims

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…