Multiple sclerosis decisions — 2014

The Veteran's Multiple Sclerosis is found to be etiologically related to her active duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for PTSD, but further development is needed to determine if there was a stressor event in service and whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address issues related to service connection and other claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot drop and a disability characterized by brain scarring, to include multiple sclerosis (MS), are denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for MS is denied as there is no competent evidence of the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multiple sclerosis had its onset within seven years of his discharge from active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records. The Veteran's claim is related to service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, which he contends was caused by in-service symptoms and his diagnosis of trichinosis within seven years of discharge.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a neurological disability, specifically multiple sclerosis. The Board finds that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of his current neurological condition, including whether it is related to active service or exposure to hazardous chemicals.

The Veteran seeks service connection for multiple sclerosis, which he asserts had its onset during active duty and is related to in-service symptoms. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining medical opinions from a neurologist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 13, 2006 for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity motor dysfunction in association with multiple sclerosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and service treatment records. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to initial compensable rating for pharyngitis is also addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Veteran's diagnosed multiple sclerosis was not present during service or until many years thereafter and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board found that the evidence received subsequent to the June 2002 decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, and thus denied reopening of this claim. The issue of entitlement to service connection for Tinnitus was also addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to a lack of residuals attributable to service-connected Multiple Sclerosis. The evidence showed that his symptoms were more likely related to prior strokes, not MS.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis and hearing loss is denied. The denial of multiple sclerosis is based on a lack of evidence linking it to service, while the denial of hearing loss is due to the failure to provide competent medical evidence establishing an in-service event or disease.

The Board found that the Veteran's multiple sclerosis did not have its onset during service and is not causally related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The eye disorder was also determined not to be caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran did not suffer from multiple sclerosis during his lifetime and there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's multiple sclerosis did not have its onset in active service or become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within seven years after separation from service. The claim was denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right eye optical neuritis is related to her service-connected multiple sclerosis and grants her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain a VA examination and additional medical records, including from Dr. W.R. at Johns Hopkins University between 1996 and 1997.