Fibromyalgia VA Rating: Do You Qualify for Compensation?

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Many veterans develop fibromyalgia due to repetitive injuries, chronic stress, infection, or trauma during military service. If you’re experiencing widespread pain, fatigue, or other symptoms, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits.

In this guide, we’ll break down how to qualify for a fibromyalgia VA rating, how to file your claim, what to do if you’re denied, and more.

Summary of Key Points

• Fibromyalgia is a service-connected condition eligible for a VA rating of 10%, 20%, or 40%, depending on severity and frequency of symptoms.
• Gulf War veterans may qualify under presumptive service connection, meaning they don’t have to prove an in-service event caused the condition.
• Secondary service connections are common—fibromyalgia can cause or be caused by other conditions like sleep apnea, IBS, and migraines.
• Filing a strong claim requires medical evidence, including a formal diagnosis, documentation of symptoms, and possibly a DBQ or C&P exam.

Fibromyalgia in Veterans

Diagnosing fibromyalgia isn’t always straightforward because there is no specific test to determine whether you have the condition.

In addition, symptoms can vary from person to person, with the main symptoms being chronic pain and fatigue, common in many health conditions. While the condition generally results in widespread pain, other symptoms of fibromyalgia in veterans include:

• Chronic headaches
• Pain in soft tissues
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Sleep disturbances

How the VA Rates Fibromyalgia

The VA rates fibromyalgia under Diagnostic Code 5025 in the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Veterans may receive a 10%, 20%, or 40% rating depending on the frequency and severity of their symptoms.

• 40%: Widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, constant or nearly so, and not responsive to medication.
• 20%: Episodic symptoms that are present more than one-third of the time, and worsened by stress or exertion.
• 10%: Symptoms that require continuous medication for control.

Your fibromyalgia VA disability percentage will determine your monthly disability compensation.

Fibromyalgia VA Rating Chart

The VA rates fibromyalgia under Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, § 4.71a, under diagnostic code 5025.

If you develop fibromyalgia while on active duty or your service worsened a pre-existing condition, you may be eligible for the following disability benefits.

VA Fibromyalgia Rating Criteria

DC 5025, Fibromyalgia	Fibromyalgia VA Rating
Widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, with or without associated fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, irritable bowel symptoms, depression, anxiety, or Raynaud’s-like symptoms that are constant, or nearly so, and refractory to therapy	40%
With widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, with or without associated fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, irritable bowel symptoms, depression, anxiety, or Raynaud’s-like symptoms that are episodic, with exacerbations often precipitated by environmental or emotional stress or by overexertion, but that are present more than one-third of the time	20%
Widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, with or without associated fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, irritable bowel symptoms, depression, anxiety, or Raynaud’s-like symptoms that require continuous medication for control	10%

Proving Service Connection

To receive disability benefits and a VA disability rating for Fibromyalgia, you must meet the following criteria:

1. A current diagnosis 
2. An in-service event, injury, or illness
3. A medical nexus (i.e., link) between the current diagnosis and the in-service event, injury, or illness

Presumptive Service Connection for Gulf War Veterans

Fibromyalgia is also a presumptive illness for Gulf War Veterans. The VA presumes that some health conditions, including Fibromyalgia, were caused by active duty military service. As a presumptive illness, veterans do not have to prove an in-service event when filing a fibromyalgia VA disability claim.

Fibromyalgia is one of the conditions the VA considers presumptive for Gulf War veterans if:

• Your symptoms began during service or became disabling to a degree of 10% or more by Dec. 31, 2026, AND
• You served in Southwest Asia, including Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and others, during the Gulf War era

This presumptive rule makes it easier for eligible veterans to qualify for benefits without proving a direct in-service event.

How to File a VA Disability Claim for Fibromyalgia

1. Gather your evidence and supporting documents (i.e., VA medical records, hospital records, private medical records, hospital reports, and supporting statements)
2. Submit your VA Form 21-526EZ claim online, in person at your local regional VA office, or by mail to:

Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444

PRO TIP: If you plan on applying for VA disability using a paper form, you should first submit an intent to file form, which gives you time to gather the necessary evidence and documentation—and could qualify you for additional compensation.  

VA C&P Exam for Fibromyalgia

A Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam helps the VA determine if you have a service-connected disability and if your time on active duty is the culprit.

While the VA recognizes fibromyalgia as a service-connected condition, you still must prove your military service caused your condition.

During your VA claim exam for fibromyalgia, the examiner may ask about the following:

• Identifying tender or trigger points
• Musculoskeletal areas involved
• Muscle strength in involved areas

TDIU and Fibromyalgia

To qualify for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) Benefits based on your fibromyalgia diagnosis, you must have one or more secondary conditions to attain a combined rating of at least 70%.

In addition, one of your secondary conditions must have at least a 40% rating.

Secondary Service Connection for Fibromyalgia

You may be eligible for additional VA benefits if you have a secondary service connection for fibromyalgia. That is, if your fibromyalgia is secondary to another already service-connected condition.

Secondary Conditions to Fibromyalgia

Alternatively, other VA-rateable conditions can be secondary to your service-connected fibromyalgia. VA secondary conditions to fibromyalgia include sleep apnea, IBS, ankylosing spondylitis, and migraines.

You’ll receive a combined rating for both disabling conditions if you qualify for a secondary condition. However, your combined disability rating can’t exceed 100%.

VA Fibromyalgia DBQ

You can use a disability benefits questionnaire for fibromyalgia to help collect necessary medical evidence from your healthcare provider to help process your claim.

A DBQ helps support your claims for disability benefits; however, you must pay for any costs associated with obtaining the form.

While a DBQ doesn’t guarantee a favorable disability rating, it can help lead you in a positive direction.

Conclusion

Fibromyalgia can be debilitating, affecting your daily life, mental health, and ability to work. If you’re a veteran living with widespread pain, fatigue, or cognitive difficulties—and especially if you served in Southwest Asia—you may qualify for a fibromyalgia VA rating andmonthly VA disability compensation.

Whether your pain began in service or worsened because of it, you may be entitled to VA benefits. With the right evidence and support, you can file a successful VA claim and get the benefits YOU DESERVE.

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