Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's multiple joint pains, to include both knees and hips, due to an undiagnosed illness, are service-related. Additionally, the veteran's seizures and/or blackouts, also due to an undiagnosed illness, are considered service-connected.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and found that new evidence supports a finding of service connection for residuals of a head injury, including seizure disorder and cognitive deficiencies. The decision is based on the reopening of the previously denied claim.

The veteran is entitled to a higher rate of special monthly compensation on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities. However, he does not meet the criteria for a higher level of aid and attendance allowance.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA inpatient observation and evaluation to determine the nature and extent of his service-connected seizure disorder.

The veteran's appeal is about the rating for his service-connected anxiety reaction with conversion features and seizures. The RO needs to obtain additional medical records, arrange for a VA psychiatric examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 12, 1996, for a grant of service connection for a seizure disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Crohn's disease and seizure disorder are related to her military service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied an increased rating for myoclonic jerking movements and did not grant service connection for seizure disorder. The veteran's TDIU claim was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to need for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a social and industrial survey. The veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated along with his nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board denied entitlement to compensation benefits for a seizure disorder and head injury residuals resulting from VA treatment during the veteran's hospitalization in March 1995, finding that no increase in severity of preexisting conditions occurred.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a seizure disorder, which was previously denied in January 1982. The case is now remanded for further development.

The veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are of such severity as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and seizure disorder. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records and provide the veteran with a new examination if necessary.

The Board denied an increased original disability rating for the veteran's seizure disorder, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that a timely Notice of Disagreement was filed with respect to the denial of service connection for a seizure disorder. The RO must readjudicate the issue under the appropriate standard and provide further examination if necessary.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his psychomotor epilepsy, and thus denied the claim.

The Board denied the claims for service connection of neck injury, back disorder, and seizure disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's x-ray findings of fractures productive of clinical symptoms of back pain were incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for a seizure disorder is remanded due to incomplete development.

The veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a subarachnoid hemorrhage has been reopened, and he is now rated at 100 percent for his service-connected major depression. His claims for increased ratings for prostatitis and psychiatric disability have also been granted.