Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his partial complex and secondary seizure disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for MS and Seizures, Blackouts, Abdominal Pain, Mood Swings, Neurological Disorders, and Low Blood Pressure. Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an outstanding request for a video-conference hearing. The appeal will be held in abeyance until further notice.

The Board has granted service connection for a seizure disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to head injuries sustained during his active duty service. The claim for higher evaluations for other conditions and TDIU are dismissed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and the residuals of a gunshot wound to the head, including seizure and kidney disorders, were not incurred during active service or as a result of a service-connected disability. The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for cerebral cysticercosis infection with seizure disorder, speech slurring, and mental changes. The case is remanded to obtain VA treatment records, service personnel records, and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to further development of evidence being required, including a statement of the case for the issue of nonservice-connected disability pension benefits and scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a current neurologic disorder, such as a seizure disorder, and whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by military service. The claim will be readjudicated after the completion of this development.

The Veteran's low back disability, PTSD, and headaches have been granted service connection. The urethral stricture claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current condition or direct service connection. Syncopal episodes are not considered in this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than December 16, 2005, for the award of a 60 percent rating for a seizure disorder and for an earlier effective date than April 20, 1998, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is entitled to a hearing via video conference.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially or materially contributed to by a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, specifically his service-connected grand mal epilepsy. The cause of death was aspiration secondary to ileus, which was due to NSTEMI.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in the decision and need for clarification from various sources, including a private physician's statement.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as for partial-complex seizure disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service stressors or a link between current symptoms and any claimed events.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic headaches, a seizure disorder, and a bilateral shoulder disorder due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was related to his active service, specifically a remote head injury with posttraumatic seizure disorder due to blunt force head trauma. The Board finds that this condition is directly related to his military service and grants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizure disorder is at least as likely as not incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizure disorder manifested during his period of service and is not attributable to any preexisting condition, thus granting service connection for a seizure disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of heat injury (pseudoseizures) from September 16, 2008 was granted. The current effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting seizure disorder was not aggravated during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.