Lisa, are you also a military veteran?
I served 22 years on active duty before deciding to retire in 2006... At which time I did not yet know that I had MS, but the symptoms made me doubt my abilities as a senior officer and had a significant influence on my decision to retire. I started experiencing symptoms of fatigue and cognitive dysfunction back in 2000, but due to a family history of heart disease the doctors focused on cardio tests. In 2001 I had what doctors thought was an inner ear infection... I suffered vertigo and lost hearing in my left ear, so they fitted me with a hearing aid to transfer sounds to my right ear... unfortunately they never looked for the cause... about 80% of my hearing returned in a couple months, but then 9/11 happened and my personal problems took a backseat.
Following my retirement I continued to have problems so I went to my new doctor and asked if we could find out what is causing them. The MRI to check out my inner ear detected the brain lesions which led to many more tests before a final MS diagnosis was made in 2008. The VA has been very good working with me and did make my MS service-connected.
I am currently employed, but continue to experience symptoms that negatively affect my performance/productivity...unsure how much longer I can keep working. 
Hi Jeff,
No, I am not a military veteran. However, I grew up next to an Air Force base and my aunt is a nurse at a VA hospital in Oklahoma.
I'm sorry that MS has affected your career, but glad that you were finally diagnosed and are receiving good care. That MRI to look at your ear/hearing really started revealing the puzzle pieces for what they were.
Hopefully MS will not interfere so greatly that you need to retire a second time anytime soon. If I had a "normal" job, I know that I would out on disability or unemployed. Being a freelance musician (and now part-time writer) has been a wonderful blessing.
I'm really glad that you've added to the discussion and hope that other veterans may read this and know that answers and good care may be out there for them too.
Hope you have a good week and stay cool. It was over 90 this past weekend around here. Yikes, it's really summertime.
I have been in the military for 12 years and I have a family history of MS. My Grandmother(deceased) and father(deceased) were both DX with MS. I am extremely concerned with a few issues I am having with my tingling in my left arm, leg, and the vision in my right eye. If I am dx with MS I understand that the Navy will medically seperate me but I am concerned about what I will be entitled to as far as a medical retirement is concerned. Does anyone have any information regarding this? It is a scary to think that I might not be able to support my family. Thank you for any help in this matter.
Moosebrugger - I know how you feel! It can be very scary because MS is unpredictable, everyone's situation is different, and no one can tell you what course your disease is going to take. I recommend you stay vigilant to make sure they document in your medical record what symptoms you are experiencing. That will be important when/if you do get an MS diagnosis. And above all, be patient, because I've found that everything related to MS moves slow...Live & Work like nothings going to change and just be prepared if anything does...
Good Luck!
Jeff, USCG Ret.
My son is 25 years old and was just diagnosed last week by a VA Dr with MS. His first episode was of optic neuritis while in Ranger school in Georgia in the summer of 2007. He had another episode of optic neuritis in February of 2009. He was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan for another tour at the time. MRI's showed lesions at that time. I believe it was something to do with the vacinations they are given. Looking for any help we can get and I am trying to find all the information I can on the disease. There is no history in either side of his family of MS. He is getting married to a wonderful girl in 3 weeks, but what information to get at such a young age. He was a Captain in the 82nd Airborne at the time. He decided to leave the military and thought he would probably be stop lossed but was not and that is probably a blessing having now found this out.
Hi twainut,
Congratulations to your son on his upcoming marriage!!! How very exciting. There must be so much going on right now and I hope that the family and your son are finding some time to just enjoy the celebrations.
Getting the diagnosis of MS can be extremely stressful and devastating. But it sounds like the diagnosis came relatively quickly (it took over five years for me). Has your son needed to take any steroids recently? If so, addressing any emotional swings from the drugs, water gain and potassium loss would be good places to start so that the wedding is more comfortable for him.
Please don't try to learn as much as possible all at once (which is almost impossible NOT to try to do). I just interviewed my mom for a post coming up this week and as a parent, she wanted me on treatment immediately!!
We are here to provide information and support, so please feel free to ask as many questions as you may have. I have had several bouts of optic neuritis just like your son and can probably relate to how he feels right about now. One of our writers, Amy, was diagnosed with MS on her 20th birthday and she can certainly relate.
So far, how is your son doing? Have his symptoms resolved or does he carry some residual effect of his relapses? Is he happy with the level of care he is receiving so far? And Dad, how are you holding up?
I'll pause with the questions right now and give you a chance to respond. Remember, we're here if you need us.
Thanks for your concern. We are doing good. With the wedding coming I don't want to dwell on this recent diagnosis and ruin the joy of the event, but as a mother I want all the info I can get. Last year at about this time shortly after the second episode of optic neuritis he was given a round of steroid injections followed by prednisone. Right now he is not on any medication and is doing well. He had planned a camping vacation with his wife's family so I haven't been able to go into details with him as they left the day after he was given the diagnosis. I had begun reading up and preparing for this possibility last year after the Dr. he saw while still on active duty ordered an MRI and raised the possibilty of MS based on lesions he saw on Jeremy's MRI. I will talk more with him earlier this week on the specifics of what the MRI shows when we talk more this coming week. He lives in Michigan now. He is going to back to school to get a teaching degree, as his future wife is a teacher also. I think that will be a good fit given his diagnosis. When he left the military he took a job with a major pharmaceutical company which I won't name but sales was not a good fit for him and I think it stressed him out quite a bit and I am glad he left that job from what I am able to read on MS - being stressed is not good. Mom and Dad live in Missouri still so we are seperated by distance but talk regularly and see each other as often as possible. He has another appointment in Ann Arbor August 26th and he said that the Dr wants to start him on injections. I am assuming interferons of some sort, but do not know the specific drug yet. I know you said not go on information overload but it is hard not too. Do you know much about the research being done by Dr. Zamboni in regards to CCSVI? My husband works with a man whose wife has had MS since 1991 and they are very excited about this. Also I am finding out that they are finding out that there may be a connection between MS and it being combat related. I know there is going to be alot of wondering how did this happen with no history, but there is alot of theories that it may trigger a gene when the military is given all the vaccinations preparing for combat duty. There is a law(rule) with the VA that if you are diagnosed with MS within 7 years of leaving active duty it is automatically a combat related disability. Makes you wonder because of that if there isn't some truth to these theories. That was my greatest fear that he would not be able to get good medical care what with health care. He said they reassured him that the VA would cover him, but I still worry him being so young and having this pre-existing condition and all the unknows. I am so thankful you replied so soon. The man that works with my husband suggested that Jeremy and his family get into a support group and I will be encouraging Jeremy to get support on his end in Michigan. Thanks once again!
I honestly believe that there are certain immunizations associated with the progression of Ms. I have a son that was made to get two immunizations because of school. Get these or he wont be allowed to attend school you know the drill. The first episode he had has was a couple of months after he got the immunizations. He had numbness and tingling on the left side of his body which progressed into him being unble to move the left side of his body. When this happen the neurologist asked us uf he had been sick or rencently had and fevers. We said no. Then we told her a couple of months ago he had some immunizations. at that time she told us that could possible be the cause of his symptoms. He alo had lesions that were seen oh his MRI. She told is that she thought he had something call ADEM, that was causing it. So he was placed in the hospital given solumedrol and sent home taking predisone. This was in January. Fast forward to may. We are at home and tell me his leg and his arm are bothering him. I called his neurologist and she saw him the next day, After another Spinal tap and MRi he was diagnosed with ms. he was 17 at the time. He never had any thing prior to the time he had the immuizations. My husband an i both looked after doing some research it stated that it has been linked to adem, which could have increased the incidence of him having MS. Of course now when i ask his neurologist about it being linked to the immunizations. Thay look at me as if they dont know what iam referring to. the medical establishment seem to be their number one rule CYA. in all curcumstances.
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Hi, Sorry for the late reply.
First off let me say that I am not yet formally diagnosed with MS. I have what the VA calls "white matter disease" and associated essential tremor. I got this partial diagnosis after being evaluated for other disabilities by the Veterans Administration. While checking range of motion of my shoulder the doctor noticed a distinct tremor and ratchety movement. She sent me to a neurologist, who sent me for an MRI, which revealed lesions. A later scan with dye revealed an active lesion. In researching all this, suddenly things started making sense. The loss of vision a few years prior, odd twitches, and hot/cold sensations, memory and other cognitive problems, etc. all had an explanation.
As mentioned, MS (and my condition) is considered military service connected. I have been in the Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard for the past 31 plus years and I'm still in the Guard. I will be retiring soon with an 80% service connected disability. (Not all of this is due to neurological problems. Three combat tours and so many years of service takes its toll!!)
I can go on for hours about the pros and cons of military medicine, the VA, etc. They've done alright for me, but I would like to get out of this limbo status and be able to start some kind of therapy and move on.
Military service related causes for this really interest me too. I read where some French soldiers who served in Afghanistan (as I did) have filed suit related to MS possibly being the result of some hepatitis innoculations they received prior to deployment. (I accidentally received a double series of hepatitis shots too.) I've heard that exposure to chemical agents could be related and I handled some abandoned Soviet chemical warfare equipment in Afghanistan prior to having major symptoms. Interesting.
Anyway, thank you for bringing up the connection between MS and military service. There are a lot of veterans who are affected by this disease. I see many each time I visit the local VA hospital.
Regards,
KJ
I have MS and am an army veteram, December 1971 to December 1973, without any family history in my immediate family or my 100+ nieces, nephews, cousins. aunts or uncles. I believe that the multiple immunizations I received at Fort Dix were responsible. I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who has a similar time frame source location of illness.
I was recently diagnosed with MS and I am now in limbo as to my career. With only 8 years active duty-3 deployments mind you and as you say multiple shots I am not sure whether they will find my MS service related. I never suffered any symptoms prior to enlistment, but I do not mind admitting I am a little scared of the path ahead, with MEB and PEB. I wish I could just stay in, I love my job.
Hi Andi,
I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis and problems. I do have a little reassuring news though. The Veteran's Administration considers MS to be "service connected" if it is diagnosed while in the military or within seven years of getting out. I am not formally diagnosed with MS but the VA has diagnosed me with "white matter brain disease" and associated my intention tremor with the white matter disease. I am rated at 90% service connected disabled but in my case I also have PTSD, sleep apnea, and various other issues from 32 years in the Army and three SF deployments.
I know just a little about Med Boards in the Army and I would suggest that you weigh your options if you have any choices. For me I had the opportunity for a MEB and opted instead for retirement since I had the years already.
I read once that there was a class action suit in France on behalf of several French soldiers diagnosed with MS who, coincidentally or not, received an accidental overdose of vaccine prior to an Afghan deployment. (I think it was a hepatitis vaccine but I'm not sure.) Coincidentally, or not, I was hospitalized along with my entire barracks in 1979 when it was said we received a "bad batch" of vaccine in Reception Station Processing. I was almost a week in the hospital with a high fever and was put in an ice bath immediately when I arrived. I'm interested in connections between these innoculations and MS/brain disease.
Let us know what transpires for you and we'll keep up the good thoughts.
1SG KJ
Andi,
I am really sorry that you are going through all of this. I know first hand how it feels mentally and emotionally. My husband and I are both NCO's in the Army. My husband was diagnosed with MS in February of last year. It was totally unexpected and threw us for a loop...as with anyone! We currently are fighting the system so that my husband can remain on AD. Although MS can be debilitating he is stable enough to continue doing what he is doing (teaching) and has the full support of his chain of command. He currently has 15 years of service, only 5 left to go. However, fighting the system to stay in is an upward and looooong battle. We non concurred the PEB/VA findings and asked for a formal board. Even with all the letters of recommendation and character witnesses that spoke on his behalf, they still denied him to be found fit for duty...so we are appealing their decision and it will go even higher. Like you, my husband loves his job and is not yet ready to take his uniform off. He has been serving his country since the age of 17. Even though he is stable it is a disease of unpredictability, which to the Army makes you "not a soldier anymore." Talk about kicking people when they are already down! I am all too familiar with the frustration and disappointment.
Multiple Sclerosis does not make you completly incompitent. No, you cannot deploy anymore, but like you my husband has already done his time in the Sandbox. I actually know an NCO that has a non deployable status cuz he is colorblind! It is unjust and unfair...even though we both know the Army doesnt care about "fair." lol
All i can tell you is to keep fighting for what you want and what you believe in...there always has to be that ONE that sets presidence for everyone else...you could be that one....keep your chin up, be resilient, and remember; once a Soldier always a Soldier!
I just been diagnostic with MS. Have only 12 yrs in the service and my current grade is E7. I heard the term medical retire for my situation. I don't know what is going to happen to my. That any one have an idea. Thanks
Jose, I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through. Medical retirement is an option, but it's not the only outcome to your situation. My suggestion to you is to speak with someone about your options. (I am partial to the people at the Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion. They know the rules and are supportive.) Get all the facts and learn the process. As soon as you know what you want to do, make your feelings known to your chain-of-command.
The military doctors will decide what they feel is in the best interest of you and the service. If you want to stay and your symptoms are not too severe, and your military job allows it, you may have a good chance of being allowed to stick around.
There's no shame in taking the medical retirement either. Disability pay is not bad and you can still work and serve in a civilian capacity. I am rated at 90% service connected disabled and am working as a contractor with the Army. I get my Army "fix" by working beside some great Soldiers, and I get fair pay for doing a job that's really close to what I was doing in the Army. (And I haven't been shot at in over a year! LOL!)
Thank you for your service.
KJ
Thanks for you comments it give some motivation. My job in the services is working with all communication equipment including computers. The only way I keep my mind away from thinking THE I HAVE (MS) is finishing my Degree on Information Technology my graduatiodate will be this year. This is the only thing that give some motivation. Talking about the service I'm notice because my condition I'm forgetting stuff and walk with a limp the entire day. But I just tell my self to coutinue to look foward and slow down the condition. Now the is time to change uniforms (civilian) and take the new challenge. Thanks again for you support.