Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding a lower back condition, seizures, and hysterectomy. The Veteran must be provided with VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, including seizure disorder, depression, and sleep apnea. The VA will seek private treatment records and schedule examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's vocational goal as a drug and alcohol counselor is not reasonably feasible due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder, alcohol-induced suicidal ideation, dementia, seizure disorder, and orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The issue of service connection for forgetfulness has been withdrawn by the Veteran. The issues of service connection for traumatic brain injury and seizures are remanded due to lack of a medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for migraine headaches, a seizure disorder, and an increased rating for TBI. The Veteran's claims are being returned due to incomplete information from previous examinations.

The Veteran's seizure disorder prior to January 15, 2014, did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent as there was no evidence of at least one major seizure in any two-year period or at least two minor seizures in any six-month period.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to incomplete records and conflicting information regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for generalized epilepsy and his entitlement to severance pay. The AOJ is instructed to contact the Atlanta RO to search for any additional records, including a separate claims file if it exists. They are also required to prepare an audit showing any military severance payments made to the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for a respiratory disability is dismissed. The claims of entitlement to service connection for seizures, blurred vision and spots, and migraines are reopened.

The Veteran's son, L.R. Jr., was recognized as the 'helpless child' of his surviving spouse due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining age 18, based on diagnosed seizure disorder and cognitive impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's seizure disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, migraine headaches, and seizure disorder. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current seizure disorder is related to his service-connected sleep apnea.

The Veteran's son, A.C., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to the age of 18 due to diagnosed conditions including seizure disorder, sleep apnea, ADHD, and major depressive disorder. The Board granted recognition as a helpless child.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back condition and movement disorder/seizures, as well as the issue of reopening a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all outstanding VA treatment records from May 2015 forward and provide an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for residuals of a TBI, seizure disability, and an acquired psychiatric condition due to conflicting evidence in the record. The Veteran's claim will be further developed with an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including hearing loss, DJD of the right knee, limitation of extension of the right knee, left knee disorder, bone disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left thigh disorder, right thigh disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, neck muscle spasms, visual defect, hypertension, GERD, brain tumor, peripheral neuropathy and polyneuropathy, seizure disorder, and other conditions. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional evidence or clarification.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the severance of service connection for tonic clonic seizure disorder was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination by a Neurologist and an environmental hazards specialist.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional service records related to the appellant's claimed conditions. The claims will be reconsidered after this information is obtained.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including low back disability, left knee disability, partial complex seizures, chronic joint pain, epiploic appendagitis, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypervascular lesions of the liver, infertility, and prediabetes. The Veteran's claims are pending in appellate status.