Epilepsy & seizure disorders Board decisions

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a disability incurred or aggravated in service, and the Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for syncopal episodes, finding that these episodes are secondary to her service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its residuals, including unsteady gait, somnolence, and cognitive dysfunction. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay statements about in-service head injuries and subsequent seizures.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, seizure disorder, right great toe and right second toe disabilities, and left knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's adult child, R.F., is not considered permanently incapable of self-support prior to turning 18 years old and thus does not meet the criteria for survivor benefits.

The Veteran's seizures are granted as secondary to the service-connected scar tissue from a 1969 head surgery.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine disability, and seizure disorder, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, the Board has granted his TDIU application.

The Veteran's seizure disorder is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as he has not had any seizures in over two years.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a seizure disorder rating of 20 percent is denied as the evidence does not show that his condition increased in severity within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tonic-clonic, grand mal seizures; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia; alcohol use disorder, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder; spigelian hernia; and deep vein thrombosis pulmonary embolism have been denied. The claim for Gulf War Syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of esophageal condition, right foot condition, headaches, seizure disorder, traumatic brain injury, and hypertension have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran during a Board hearing. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, seizure disorder, photophobia, and headaches are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed due to an improper concurrent election.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete records, including SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's right knee tendinopathy, tendinitis is not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for hypersomnia due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeal. The appeals for cervico-occipital neuralgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, and a seizure disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted effective March 27, 2013, as he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities since that date.

The Veteran's claims for depression, insomnia, migraine headaches with dizziness, obstructive sleep apnea, left ear hearing loss, seizure disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder are all granted. The service connection is presumed based on in-service exposure to tear gas.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a failure to obtain relevant medical records, specifically those associated with the use of an Epiwatch device. The RO must attempt to retrieve these records and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to authorize their release.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the May 24, 2021 rating decision proposing to reduce the evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy from 80 percent to 10 percent was not a final action and thus not ripe for review.

The Veteran's angioedema, hypertension, seizures, obstructive sleep apnea, and thyroid cancer residuals are all service-connected. The rating for angioedema is denied as it meets the maximum evaluation. Hypertension receives a 10 percent rating prior to December 29, 2019 and no higher thereafter. SMC based on need for aid and attendance is granted.