{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/fibromyalgia","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:29:15.236Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Fibromyalgia","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":4196,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":16.3,"denied_pct":29.1,"remanded_pct":52.8,"granted_on_merits_pct":35.8,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":253,"granted_pct":11.5,"denied_pct":31.6,"remanded_pct":49},{"year":2018,"issues":452,"granted_pct":16.4,"denied_pct":29,"remanded_pct":51.1},{"year":2019,"issues":476,"granted_pct":17.4,"denied_pct":27.9,"remanded_pct":52.3},{"year":2020,"issues":497,"granted_pct":14.3,"denied_pct":31.2,"remanded_pct":52.1},{"year":2021,"issues":449,"granted_pct":18.7,"denied_pct":27.4,"remanded_pct":51.9},{"year":2022,"issues":453,"granted_pct":15.7,"denied_pct":26.3,"remanded_pct":56.7},{"year":2023,"issues":526,"granted_pct":16.3,"denied_pct":23.8,"remanded_pct":58.2},{"year":2024,"issues":526,"granted_pct":17.3,"denied_pct":24.1,"remanded_pct":56.7},{"year":2025,"issues":453,"granted_pct":14.8,"denied_pct":37.7,"remanded_pct":46.4},{"year":2026,"issues":199,"granted_pct":21.1,"denied_pct":38.2,"remanded_pct":38.7}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":70.3,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":671,"granted_pct_with":54.6,"granted_pct_without":30.5},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":3140,"granted_pct_with":34.3,"granted_pct_without":42.8},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":768,"granted_pct_with":59,"granted_pct_without":29},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":2189,"granted_pct_with":31.5,"granted_pct_without":41.6},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":1440,"granted_pct_with":44.7,"granted_pct_without":30.1},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":322,"granted_pct_with":61.8,"granted_pct_without":32.9},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":3460,"granted_pct_with":35.4,"granted_pct_without":38.7},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":131,"granted_pct_with":36.5,"granted_pct_without":35.8},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":259,"granted_pct_with":43.2,"granted_pct_without":35.3}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":82},{"reason":"fibromyalgia is a qualifying chronic disability under 38 c.f.r. § 3.317","decisions":28},{"reason":"veteran served in southwest asia during persian gulf war","decisions":26},{"reason":"already at the maximum schedular rating","decisions":18},{"reason":"veteran is a persian gulf veteran","decisions":15},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":15}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":235},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":94},{"reason":"already at the maximum schedular rating","decisions":89},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":72},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":69},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":66}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040500","year":2026,"judge":"GAYLE STROMMEN","rationale":"Persian Gulf Veteran status verified by DoD data.; Fibromyalgia diagnosed in Oct 2020 VA exam.; Fibromyalgia considered qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317."},{"case_id":"A26037374","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL SORISIO","rationale":"Private physician diagnosed fibromyalgia and linked it to Veteran's symptoms.; VA examinations were inadequate as they failed to attribute all symptoms and relied on inaccurate factual bases.; Evidence was in approximate balance, warranting benefit of the doubt.; Veteran served in Southwest Asia the… [truncated, 81 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26037299","year":2026,"judge":"S. BUSH","rationale":"Veteran's lay statements indicated constant symptoms refractory to therapy.; VA exam noted constant symptoms but rated them episodic, with low probative value.; Benefit of the doubt applied due to approximate balance of evidence."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26038990","year":2026,"judge":"JENNA BRANT","rationale":"Service treatment records and VA examinations negative for fibromyalgia.; Private opinion lacked specific symptoms and probative value.; Evidence weighed against a diagnosis of fibromyalgia."},{"case_id":"26004894","year":2026,"judge":"THOMAS L. ENGLISH","rationale":"Lack of current fibromyalgia diagnosis.; Conflicting medical opinions regarding diagnosis and etiology.; Evidence suggests other causes for pain (tendonitis, muscular injury, somatization).; Lay statements not competent to opine on diagnosis adequacy."},{"case_id":"A26038017","year":2026,"judge":"T. RAYMOND","rationale":"Veteran already receiving maximum 40% rating under DC 5025.; VA examination did not support exceptional disability picture.; No legal basis for higher schedular rating."}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}