Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that further development is needed regarding the claims for service connection for cause of death and burial allowance. The appellant's theory involves a relationship between the Veteran's cold injury residuals, including frostbite, and his fatal stroke.

The Board found that the Veteran's seizure disorder is not related to his in-service injury and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to maintain any regular, substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new hearing at the RO to address his claims of service connection and increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current seizure disability or right shoulder condition, and therefore, his claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person; he is neither bedridden nor housebound.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for a visual disability, residuals of a head injury, and left knee disability. The claim for diabetes mellitus is granted.,The claim for erectile dysfunction was not incurred in active service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's preexisting headaches were aggravated by service and whether his seizure disorder is related to service. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's daughter is seeking recognition as the 'helpless child' of her father, based on permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining age 18. The appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's seizure disorder is not related to his active service and has not been continuous since service separation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining inpatient or clinical records from Fort Jackson and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current seizure disorder began during service.

The Veteran's claim for educational benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is granted as he served on active duty and was discharged due to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's seizure disorder pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of left side head injury, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), cognitive impairment, or a seizure disorder secondary to the head injury. The VA examiners found no objective indication of a cognitive disorder or behavioral compromise due to trauma-related damage and concluded that observed problems with comprehension and expression were likely due to psychological and emotional factors.

The Board found that the Veteran's epilepsy has been not more than 20 percent disabling throughout the period on appeal, as evidenced by two to four minor seizures per week. The claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder, associated with a seizure disorder temporal lobe type, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board found that the disability warranted a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 80 percent for seizure disorder, to include TBI residuals, has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and complex partial seizures were denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms warranted a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be 'unknown' due to dementia, seizures, and depression. The VA found no service-connected disability that caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death.