Citation Nr: 21075395 Decision Date: 12/20/21 Archive Date: 12/20/21 DOCKET NO. 17-05 024 DATE: December 20, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1979 to June 1981 in the U.S. Army. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a March 2015 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a virtual Board hearing in June 2021. A copy of the hearing transcript is of record. This case was previously before the Board in August 2021, at which time the issue on appeal was remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion. Although further delay is regrettable, the Board finds that additional development is necessary prior to appellate review. The Veteran was afforded a VA examination in September 2021. The examiner opined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia was less likely than not incurred in service or caused by getting hit by a motor vehicle during service. The rationale stated that the Veteran's enlistment exam is negative for claimed conditions, there are no service treatment records located during the Veteran's active service period to indicate a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and the first indication of possible fibromyalgia vs myofascial pain syndrome is found in a medical record dated December 2003 which is several years after the Veteran's active service period. The Board finds this opinion inadequate for adjudication purposes because it is conclusory and the examiner relied on the lack of documentation of a diagnosis in the Veteran's medical records. Additionally, the evidence of record shows that the Veteran's diagnosed fibromyalgia may be related to her service-connected disabilities. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for fibromyalgia because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran's fibromyalgia is related to her service connected disabilities. As such, remand is warranted to obtain an addendum VA opinion. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate physician. If an examination is deemed necessary by the physician, then one should be scheduled, and all necessary tests and studies should be completed. Upon review of the claims file, the physician is asked to opine as to the following: (a.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran's fibromyalgia had its onset during active service. (b.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran's fibromyalgia is otherwise related to any in-service injury, event, or disease, including being struck by a motor vehicle during service. (c.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran's fibromyalgia was (1) caused or (2) aggravated by her service-connected disabilities. The physician must consider the lay statements of record and the Veteran's medical history, including the June 2021 hearing testimony and the November 2013 Correspondence. The physician is advised that the Veteran is competent to report symptoms, treatment, and injuries, and that her reports must be considered in formulating the requested opinion. The physician is not to improperly discount the Veteran's lay statements or mistakenly rely on an absence of medical evidence in the record to support his or her conclusions. A complete rationale for all requested opinions must be provided. The physician should include a discussion of facts and medical principles involved. If the physician determines that an opinion cannot be provided without resorting to speculation, the physician must explain why this is so and identify what additional information, if any, would be required to provide an opinion. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board T. Kernen, Associate Counsel The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.