Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated medical evidence regarding his competency and financial management, including Social Security benefits.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right arm, left arm, right hand, left hand, right leg, left leg, and bilateral eye disabilities that are secondary to his seizure disorder and blackouts.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current seizure disorder is related to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD was denied as the evidence did not show a current diagnosis of PTSD. The seizure disorder claim is also denied.

The Veteran's epilepsy, including grand mal seizures, had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection on a presumptive basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and needs further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a disability characterized by episodes of an altered mental state, including a seizure disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of an undiagnosed illness or a chronic disability manifested by tremors, seizures, short-term memory loss, sleep disturbance, headaches, fatigue, and ED. The diagnoses provided did not support the claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, cervical spine; hypothyroidism; and epilepsy. The Veteran's PTSD claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and its related symptoms, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any in-service exposure. The claims for seizure disorder, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), loss of balance and hand/eye coordination, mood disorder, and amnestic disorder have also been denied as they are not found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing seizure disorder was aggravated by service, and therefore granted service connection for it.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected partial complex seizures, and for obtaining all relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizure disorder is not related to his active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of September 3, 1997. The Board also remanded the issue of earlier effective dates for other benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional private treatment records and providing an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral pes planus, service connection for seizure disorder, and service connection for disability manifested by bilateral calf pain were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board is remanding the claims to obtain Social Security Administration records and any ongoing VA medical treatment records for consideration.

The case is being remanded to review whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the October 2007 effective date for TDIU, as well as to obtain additional medical records related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions and any other relevant treatment.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, lower extremity neuropathy, sleep apnea, and seizures were denied as the evidence did not establish service connection based on direct service connection.

The Board found that a skin disorder of the back and neck may be related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. However, there is no evidence linking the seizure disorder to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting asthma was not aggravated by his active service and does not have a current respiratory disorder other than asthma. As such, the claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder are denied.