If you are able to provide evidence of benzene exposure in the military MDS is about a slam dunk. Where they are going to get you will be by calling MDS just a form of anemia.
I recently presented my case before the Board of Veterans' Appeals in DC but don't have a decision yet. Five years ago after another BVA hearing I was granted the relationship between AO and MDS but given zero percent disability because it was only "anemia."
On March 10, 2015 I presented my appeal that MDS is most like leukemia and in the absence of a code MDS should be rated as leukemia. If you would like a copy of that, email me a mailing address at
AirAmrka@aol.com. It is much too large to be emailed to you.