Multiple sclerosis decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's Multiple Sclerosis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA neurologist's opinion on the onset of multiple sclerosis.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the veteran's Multiple Sclerosis was present during service or within one year of discharge, and whether it is related to in-service symptoms. The case is being remanded for additional medical examination and development.

The Board has vacated its previous denial of service connection for Multiple Sclerosis and remanded the case to consider new lay statements from the veteran describing symptoms that supported a later diagnosis.

The Board granted service connection for multiple sclerosis, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The veteran's service connection for a neurological disorder, to include multiple sclerosis, and neurogenic bladder as secondary to multiple sclerosis was granted.

The veteran's rating for multiple sclerosis with a neurogenic bladder was increased to 60 percent, effective from April 18, 2007.

The appeal is remanded to secure additional medical records that may document the onset of symptoms related to multiple sclerosis, as the current record remains unclear regarding their clinical onset and whether they began during the post-service presumptive period.

The veteran's vocational goal of becoming a sound engineering technician or broadcast/sound technician is suitable and feasible, and he is entitled to vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code.

The veteran's claim to reopen the previously-denied service connection for multiple sclerosis was denied as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis as there was no evidence that it manifested during or within seven years of his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for cataracts as there was no evidence linking the condition to service. The issues of PTSD and demyelinating disease are remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for multiple sclerosis, finding that it manifested to a compensable degree within seven years of separation from service. The claim for a gynecological disability was denied.

The Board granted service connection for multiple sclerosis, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim and that the disease was manifested during the seven-year presumptive period following service.

The Board denied the claim, determining that there was no medical evidence of record to substantiate a nexus between the veteran's service and his multiple sclerosis.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the appellant currently has MS that had its onset to a compensable degree within seven years of his discharge from service. Consequently, reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the appellant and service connection for MS is granted.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals granted service connection for multiple sclerosis based on the presence of symptoms in service and a medical opinion linking those symptoms to MS.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the veteran's multiple sclerosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than September 3, 1999, for service connection for multiple sclerosis.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for iritis of the left eye and associated decreased visual acuity was denied, as his corrected visual acuity has not met the criteria for a higher rating.