Multiple sclerosis Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for MS, brain lesions, cognitive disorder, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder are granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has additional disabilities secondary to his service-connected MS, including vision disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, bladder and bowel dysfunction, foot drop, gait and imbalance issues, muscle spasms, left hand disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for multiple sclerosis with loss of use of feet has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Multiple Sclerosis (MS) was incurred during a period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA), and thus service connection is granted.

Service connection for Multiple Sclerosis and Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity is granted. Service connection for Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Lower Extremity is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis is reopened and remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset, nature, and etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of Multiple Sclerosis is dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to obtain additional VA treatment records and provide addendum medical opinions regarding the appellant's left ankle, right foot, and MS disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal to the September 2015 rating decision denying service connection for Multiple Sclerosis was not timely filed, and therefore the appeal is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's MS and her service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate September 2016 VA examination, and requests that all pertinent records be obtained and a supplemental opinion provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Raynaud's phenomenon, multiple sclerosis with adjustment disorder, and lumbar strain due to service-connected multiple sclerosis. The Veteran needs new examinations to determine the current severity of his conditions and an addendum opinion regarding whether his back condition is related to his service-connected multiple sclerosis.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability that had been rated as totally disabling for at least eight years prior to his death. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1311(a)(2).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's Multiple Sclerosis first manifested during service or is otherwise related to his military service. The Veteran was treated for hand pain and inflammation, and had a fall while running in service. He also had a pre-service diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus which may be associated with an increased risk of MS.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, specifically computerized typography scans (CT) from 1994. The Board is requesting further medical etiology opinions and obtaining additional private records for consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to new evidence showing worsening of his service-connected disabilities. The issues include multiple sclerosis, dysthymic disorder, urinary voiding dysfunction, left upper extremity weakness, left lower extremity weakness, and history of optic neuritis.

The Veteran's service-connected dementia alone does not render him unemployable, thus SMC based on statutory housebound status is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to multiple sclerosis, and found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The decision also determined that there was no CUE in the denial.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 26, 2012 for the grant of service connection for GERD was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for GERD was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Multiple Sclerosis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and development of his exposure history. His TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his service connection claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for Multiple Sclerosis and remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 40 percent for his right hand disability.