Multiple sclerosis decisions — 2020

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is causally or etiologically due to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's Multiple Sclerosis was incurred during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for eligibility for a special home adaptation grant. The Board also granted eligibility for specially adapted housing due to her service-connected disabilities, including multiple sclerosis and related lower extremity weakness.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's Multiple Sclerosis is related to his in-service exposure to herbicides. The examiner needs to provide a clear and convincing opinion on this issue.

The Board has directed an addendum medical opinion due to the August 2017 addendum opinion not identifying alternative neurological or psychiatric disorders and not analyzing whether the Veteran has any current neurological disorders other than MS. The Court also noted that the May 1984 VA neuropsychiatric examination did not support the diagnosis of MS.

The Veteran's service-connected multiple sclerosis results in loss of use of both lower extremities, qualifying for specially adapted housing. The appeal concerning eligibility for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as the Veteran has been found eligible for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Multiple Sclerosis is granted as her current MS has been shown to be caused by or related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple sclerosis, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, neurogenic bladder, and depressive disorder have been reopened. The new evidence supports the reopening of these claims.,Service connection has not been established for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, or sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further verification of the Veteran's service periods and additional medical records. Service connection may be granted if the Veteran had a period of at least 90 days of active service within seven years of developing multiple sclerosis.

The Veteran's multiple sclerosis with right upper extremity weakness is rated at 30 percent since April 29, 2010. Separate compensable ratings are granted for left upper extremity weakness (as a residual associated with Multiple Sclerosis), left lower extremity weakness (as a residual associated with Multiple Sclerosis), and right lower extremity weakness (as a residual associated with Multiple Sclerosis). Increased urinary frequency is rated at 20 percent since April 29, 2010. Diplopia is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to obtain private medical records from Dr. Farhut Husain and Dr. Joseph Weissman, and not obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's bilateral optic atrophy associated with multiple sclerosis is currently rated 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's multiple sclerosis is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The broken and loose teeth claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for weakness of the right and left upper extremities, associated with multiple sclerosis with chronic fatigue, were denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8513.