Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2013

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination. The Veteran's epilepsy will be evaluated in the context of her service history, including an alleged motor vehicle accident during active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of seizure disorder or Bell's palsy, and his pre-existing head disorder did not worsen during service. Therefore, he cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for left knee disability was granted, with a current evaluation of 10 percent. The claimant is seeking an increase in the rating for his service-connected left knee disability prior to April 29, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for nocturnal epilepsy is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's conditions, including normal pressure hydrocephalus, petit mal seizures, organic brain syndrome, and dementia, are not related to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury and seizure disorder, including as secondary to schizophrenia, due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran is required to undergo another comprehensive VA neurology examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation during service and whether any such exposure caused or contributed to his claimed disabilities. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its interdependence with the service connection issue.

The Board found that the Veteran's current seizure disorder is not related to his service, including as a residual of malaria. The most probative evidence does not support a finding that the seizure disorder was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board found that the appellant's preexisting seizure disorder did not worsen during service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a cancerous tumor of the brain with seizures was dismissed as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and symptoms have not been continuous since separation from active service. The issues regarding higher initial disability ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were also dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an administrative error in scheduling a Board hearing. The case will be returned for the scheduled hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a seizure disorder was reopened and granted effective from April 7, 1989. The Board found that the evidence established that the seizure disorder had its onset in service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a seizure disorder and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a seizure disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a seizure disorder or active bronchitis, and thus the Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for asthma, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and epilepsy as his service did not meet the requirements for eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be finally decided. This includes obtaining SSA records, a VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder was incurred in or aggravated by service, and opinions regarding whether narcolepsy and temporal lobe seizures are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current seizure disorder is at least as likely as not related to head trauma sustained during basic training in service, and thus grants service connection for a seizure disorder.