Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder, diabetes mellitus, a seizure disorder, and a psychiatric disorder. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran is entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for chronic disability manifested by loss of balance, pain and seizures due to VA treatment in August and September 1995.

The Veteran's seizure disorder was rated at 40 percent prior to July 12, 2010 and increased to 80 percent effective October 15, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for seizure disorder and migraine headaches due to a lack of scheduled Travel Board hearing.

The Board granted service connection for seizure disorder and major depressive disorder as secondary to the service-connected seizure disorder, effective January 31, 2001.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no evidence of a current disability or its onset during active military service. Service connection was granted for muscle spasms of the entire body (claimed as epilepsy).

The Board found that the Veteran's brain tumor did not have onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and an increased rating for inguinal hernia are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected partial complex seizures are currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that an initial 80 percent rating is warranted effective November 7, 2005.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for personality disorder, seizure disorder, and residuals of traumatic brain injury (formerly head injury). However, further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development due to inadequate review of the claims file and incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected seizure disorder, hypertension, and bilateral leg and foot pain have been found to be disabling enough for him to qualify for pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for focal seizures was granted, and the effective date for service connection is set at October 4, 2005.

The Board's September 2009 decision denying an earlier effective date for seizure disorder was vacated and remanded by the Court, so the Board does not have jurisdiction to revise it on CUE grounds.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected seizure disorder prevented him from successfully pursuing a vocational rehabilitation program and becoming gainfully employed in an occupation consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests prior to September 1995.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's temporal lobe epilepsy, finding that it began in service. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected seizure disorder is found to be related to his chronic headaches, which are granted as secondary to the seizure disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if he has epilepsy or pulmonary fibrosis due to asbestos exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for a seizure disorder, finding the evidence did not support a link to service and that the seizures likely began after a 1986 accident.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a seizure disorder, which was previously denied in 1993. The reopened claim was granted with an effective date of June 10, 2003.