Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD is linked to in-service stressors and granted service connection for PTSD. The seizure disorder issue remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's seizure disorder did not begin during his active service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to a high fever experienced in Vietnam. The claim was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or an applicable presumptive period.

The veteran died of a stab wound to the chest and did not have any service-connected disabilities at the time of his death. The appellant does not meet the eligibility criteria for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a seizure disorder and has found that new and material evidence supports this claim. The condition is presumed to have first manifested in service.

The Board finds that the veteran's seizure disorder is not related to his service, and thus denies service connection. The veteran also does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from February 8, 2004 to February 10, 2004 were not reimbursable because the care provided did not meet the criteria for 'emergency treatment' as defined by VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was denied as his disabilities do not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor and the diagnosis of PTSD does not meet VA criteria.,Service connection for coronary artery disease to include as secondary to epilepsy was also denied due to lack of medical evidence showing a causal relationship.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's seizures and headaches are related to his in-service football injury, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial rating of 10 percent. The issue of service connection for Parkinson's disease, claimed as secondary to the service-connected seizure disorder, is still pending.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for epilepsy.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for schizophrenia and found new and material evidence to support it. The claim for service connection for seizures remains denied.

The veteran's claims of secondary service connection for various conditions, including circulatory disorder, glaucoma, hypertension, kidney disease, interventricular bleeding, residuals of a stroke, and seizure disorder are being granted as they are presumed to be related to his diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure during the Vietnam War.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including histoplasmosis of the right lung, benign prostatic hypertrophy, headaches, seizure disorder, and mini-strokes. The veteran's service records were silent regarding these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for head injury residuals and bilateral broken hips, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for epilepsy and entitlement to nonservice-connected pension disability benefits, finding that there was no current diagnosis of epilepsy and that the veteran did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected disability pension.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and awarded a 30 percent disability rating, effective September 6, 2001. The veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for epilepsy due to new and material evidence. However, secondary service connection for a dental condition related to epilepsy medication is not granted as it does not meet the criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for his major motor seizures and for an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU.