Multiple sclerosis decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a video conference hearing at the RO for issues related to service connection for multiple sclerosis, an undiagnosed illness, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for multiple sclerosis is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his periods of active duty and National Guard service. The case will be returned to the RO for further development, including verifying ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA periods, obtaining SSA records, and providing a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's multiple sclerosis did not manifest in service or to a compensable degree within seven years thereafter and has not been shown to be causally related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his bowel dysfunction. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for the neurogenic bowel associated with multiple sclerosis will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for MS. The Veteran's current diagnosis of MS is considered, along with his service history, to determine if it is at least as likely as not that he had MS or prodromal signs of MS during service.

The Board denied service connection for multiple sclerosis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not manifest within seven years of separation from active duty.

The Board finds that the Veteran's multiple sclerosis had its onset during his period of active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multiple sclerosis originated during active duty and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current multiple sclerosis was initially manifested during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA outpatient treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for Multiple Sclerosis will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's multiple sclerosis was not present during her active duty service or within seven years after discharge, nor is it otherwise shown to be related to her active duty service. Therefore, she did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 3, 2005, for the grant of service connection for multiple sclerosis is denied. The decision states that she did not file a prior claim and there was no legal basis to assign an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The evidence is insufficient to establish a link between any current psychiatric condition and service. Service connection was also denied for left foot and toes disability, low back disorder, and multiple sclerosis.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple sclerosis on a presumptive basis as the Veteran's symptoms within the 7 year presumptive period were early manifestations of the subsequently diagnosed condition.

The Board has ordered a third remand to obtain the results of a lumbar puncture and spinal fluid analysis, as well as current VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims file was also sent for an addendum VA examination at the Roseburg VA medical facility.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and a need for an opinion on whether currently diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis had its onset in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multiple sclerosis is related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, finding that it was a freestanding claim and thus without legal merit.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis and remanded it for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, Optical Neuritis, Bilateral Hearing Loss, and Tinnitus. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service, and concluded that they are not related to military service.