Service connection for Multiple Sclerosis is granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent).,Service connection for Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity and Left Lower Extremity is remanded for further evaluation.,Entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss must be denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports that the Veteran's MS was caused by in-service exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange.,VA treatment records and June 2019 private evaluation confirm current diagnoses of MS. The Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran regarding service connection for MS.,The VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is related to his military service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents.,VA treatment records and private medical opinions are necessary to evaluate the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Lower Extremity
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20003543
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to MS and that the condition did not manifest within seven years of discharge from active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding its etiology.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis, finding that the evidence did not support a direct link between his condition and in-service toxic exposures at Camp Lejeune.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
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