Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that’s characterized by tenderness and pain in the muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue. Often, there is unexplained, widespread pain throughout the body that can last for long periods of time.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects approximately five million adults, but studies show that veterans, particularly those who served in the Gulf War, are more frequently diagnosed with fibromyalgia that non-Gulf War veterans and civilians.
To qualify for VA disability benefits, a veteran’s fibromyalgia symptoms must have initiated while on active duty in the Southwest Asia Theater of military operations or before December 21, 2021.
To diagnose fibromyalgia, a doctor will give you a physical exam where he tests the sensitivity of the your trigger points. There must be widespread pain that has lasted over three months in 11 of the 18 possible points. You must feel pain above and below the waist and on both sides of your body.
If you suffer from widespread pain and tender points—with or without accompanying fatigue, stiffness, headache, sleep disturbance, and other symptoms—you will be given a rating of 10, 20 or 40 percent depending on how severe your symptoms are and how well your condition responds to medication and therapy.
It’s important to note that you can suffer from other conditions along with fibromyalgia. If this is the case, it’s unlikely that you’ll win a claim unless your fibromyalgia continues after your other conditions have been treated and stabilized for at least six months.
The bottom line is if you suffer from fibromyalgia, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits. However, the VA application process can be complicated and sometimes frustrating, so you may want to hire a legal expert to help you.
The VA accredited attorneys at Cuddigan Law help veterans obtain the disability benefits they deserve. We understand compensation for conditions like fibromyalgia, and we assist veterans because we appreciate the sacrifice and service they’ve made to our country.
If you’re a veteran who experiences flare-ups of widespread pain, stiffness, and trigger-point tenderness, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits for your fibromyalgia condition. We are here to help you. Also if you’ve applied and were denied benefits, call us at Cuddigan Law. We’ll schedule an appointment to discuss your eligibility for compensation.
