BVA decisions by condition
Multiple sclerosis: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a multiple sclerosis issue in 1,184 decisions. It granted the multiple sclerosis issue in 25.8% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 20.9%, and remanded it in 50.8%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 55.2% were granted.
Decisions
1,184
2017–2026
Granted
25.8%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
55.2%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
50.8%
Denied: 20.9%
Multiple sclerosis outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 97 | 13.4% | 35.1% | 48.5% | 3.1% |
| 2018 | 131 | 29.0% | 17.6% | 48.9% | 4.6% |
| 2019 | 167 | 23.4% | 19.2% | 52.7% | 4.8% |
| 2020 | 121 | 19.8% | 19.0% | 58.7% | 2.5% |
| 2021 | 159 | 22.0% | 22.0% | 54.7% | 1.3% |
| 2022 | 145 | 24.8% | 17.9% | 56.6% | 0.7% |
| 2023 | 143 | 19.6% | 20.3% | 56.6% | 3.5% |
| 2024 | 137 | 37.2% | 18.2% | 39.4% | 5.1% |
| 2025 | 103 | 35.9% | 18.4% | 45.6% | 0.0% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 50 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied multiple sclerosis decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the multiple sclerosis issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 275 | 85.9% | 36.9% | +49.0 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 139 | 81.8% | 49.3% | +32.5 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 166 | 79.7% | 48.5% | +31.2 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 530 | 66.9% | 39.4% | +27.5 pts |
| Buddy statement | 47 | 60.0% | 55.0% | +5.0 pts |
| Lay statement | 964 | 52.8% | 71.4% | −18.6 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 108 | 37.5% | 56.2% | −18.7 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 80.7% of the decisions that granted multiple sclerosis.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 43.9% of grants and 10.1% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often multiple sclerosis was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 536 | 49.0% | 62.3% | −13.3 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 728 | 50.0% | 67.5% | −17.5 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied multiple sclerosis
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established37
- Continuity of symptomatology since service7
- Service records negative or silent6
- Symptoms manifested within seven years of service4
- Presumptive service connection for chronic disease3
- Presumptive service connection under 38 c.f.r. § 3.309(a)3
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service3
- Presumptive service connection for multiple sclerosis3
Most common reasons in denials
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis28
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service27
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim23
- No current diagnosis20
- No continuity of symptomatology17
- Service records negative or silent14
- Current diagnosis established10
- Continuity of symptomatology since service7
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent multiple sclerosis decisions
Granted
Favorable opinion from VA treating neurologist Dr. J.L. linking in-service symptoms to MS.; Inadequate negative opinion from June 2021 VA examiner who failed to address in-service symptoms.; Application of benefit of the doubt due to approximate balance of evidence.
Evidence in equipoise; Benefit of the doubt applied; Probative private physician opinion
Current disability established; In-service onset of symptoms in 1995; Credible treating physician opinion linking symptoms to service; No medical opinion weighing against service connection
Denied
Questionable diagnosis of MS; Lack of continuous symptoms post-service; No nexus to service established
Symptoms consistent with 50% rating (depression, anxiety, sleep impairment); Lack of severe symptoms required for 70% rating (hallucinations, impaired thought processes); Inconsistent findings in December 2023 VA exam deemed of limited probative value
Service treatment records silent for PLS; No competent evidence linking PLS to service; Veteran's bare assertion of nexus insufficient
Rules that apply to multiple sclerosis claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your multiple sclerosis case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a multiple sclerosis issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.