Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development to obtain complete VA treatment records and SSA disability determination(s). The case will be readjudicated based on the additional evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for separate compensable evaluations for residuals of diabetes mellitus (DM) as there was no factually ascertainable increase in severity within one year prior to his March 4, 2012 informal claim. The effective date for the grant of service connection and separate ratings is therefore not earlier than March 4, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The effective date of service connection for seizure disorder is also being addressed.

The Veteran was granted service connection for dry eyes and seizure disorder secondary to his service-connected Behcet's meningoencephalitis, but the effective dates requested by the appellant are not met.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of seizure symptoms of AVM is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that he was entitled to such prior to February 28, 2001.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, leg circulation problems, heart palpitations, nervous body system with slight tremors and seizures, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability during the course of his claim and appeal.

The Veteran experienced severe Dilantin toxicity as a result of treatment provided by VA in May and June 2008, but the Board found that this was not caused by VA's care or negligence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, erectile dysfunction, residuals from a stroke, seizure disorder, and chronic headache disorder are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or are not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's head injury and resulting conditions are not deemed to be caused by VA care, treatment, or examination.

The Veteran's service-connected seizure disorder rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from January 23, 2007 to September 30, 2011. After that date, his other service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a seizure disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also finds that the Veteran's current seizure disorder is related to his Gulf War service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current seizure disorder, bilateral knee disability, or low back disability that is related to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's epilepsy, grand mal was rated at 40 percent prior to June 16, 2009. From June 16, 2009 through August 8, 2011, the rating was increased to 80 percent based on his condition causing more than five to eight minor seizures per week or two major seizures per year.

The Board found that the appellant's seizure disorder pre-existed his period of active duty for training and was not aggravated by service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his service connection claim, including a radiation dose estimate and an opinion on whether his meningioma is related to in-service herbicide exposure or radiation.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from the VA neurologist regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are aggravated by his service-connected seizure disorder, and to provide a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's headache disorder is due to or aggravated by his service-connected depression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for seizure disorder in December 2008. The evidence received since then is considered cumulative and does not raise a reasonable possibility of establishing the claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a seizure disability, which the Board has remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relation to service. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that service connection for anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified is granted.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability and neurologic disorder (including headaches and seizure disorder) are denied.

The Veteran's application for a clothing allowance was not timely filed, as it was received after the July 31st deadline. Therefore, he is denied entitlement to clothing allowances for 2004 through 2013.