Multiple sclerosis decisions — 2019

The claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. Service connection is established for multiple sclerosis, Sjogren’s syndrome, arthritis, tendonitis, a disorder manifested by dizziness (Meniere's disease), and a nerve disability.

The Veteran is currently in receipt of the earliest effective date possible on a schedular basis for his TDIU award, which was July 18, 2012. The Board cannot grant an earlier effective date without first determining if extra-schedular consideration is warranted under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to pancreatic cancer, with multiple sclerosis contributing. The Board found no service connection for either condition due to lack of evidence and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple sclerosis and related symptoms are remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals of all the listed claims, including service connection and increased rating claims. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's exposure during service, including potential radiation or chemical exposures. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's Multiple Sclerosis and Right Eye Optic Nerve Deficiency are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multiple sclerosis is related to his service, granting service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for Multiple Sclerosis and remanded it for further development, including obtaining inpatient or clinical records from a civilian hospital in France related to treatment for mononucleosis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the condition began within seven years of separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Multiple Sclerosis with dizziness and balance problems is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent has been granted.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's MS and his military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Board concluded that the Veteran's MS did not have onset in or within seven years of service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development regarding whether the Veteran's in-service urinary symptoms and post-service back pain were early manifestations of his current multiple sclerosis.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for Multiple Sclerosis and remanded it due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. A VA examination is needed to determine if MS is related to service or secondary to PTSD.

The Board has ordered a remand to verify the appellant's periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA) in May 1994, as these may have been relevant to determining whether his Multiple Sclerosis had its onset during this period. The appeal is on issues related to severance of service connection for various conditions due to Multiple Sclerosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed.,His petition to reopen a finally denied claim of service connection for multiple sclerosis has been granted, with the condition that his symptoms are related to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection is granted.,Service connection was established for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure, effective June 19, 2015.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have not met the criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence and missing records, including SSA disability records and additional service medical records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his MS had its onset during ACDUTRA.

The Board found that the original award of a separate evaluation for urinary frequency associated with service-connected Multiple Sclerosis was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus granting severance. As a result, the issue of an earlier effective date is moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Multiple Sclerosis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and General Anxiety. The reasons include missing records from a July 2011 VA examination and the need to provide additional notice regarding personal assaults during service.