Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection and non-service connected pension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying his service dates.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea and seizure disorder claims.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's residuals of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, including brain trauma resulting in a seizure disorder and brain tumor (postoperative right petrous hyperostotic meningioma), are service-connected. The panic attacks and visual disability secondary to these conditions have also been granted.

The Veteran's seizure disorder was not incurred in service and is not otherwise related to her active military service.,The Veteran's headaches, including migraines and vascular headaches, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a seizure disorder, which she claims was caused by VA medical care. The current evidence does not sufficiently address the role of tramadol in her seizures and requires additional examination to determine if it constitutes an additional disability caused or aggravated by VA treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and seizure disorder have been denied, as there is no evidence of these conditions during or related to his military service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has also been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current thoracic and/or lumbar spine or seizure disorders related to service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's seizure disorder. The appeal is considered 'mixed' as some issues may be granted and others not.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including loss of vision and sleep disorder. The issues related to TBI or residuals thereof, bilateral inguinal hernias, headaches, sinus disorder with shortness of breath (sinus disorder), eating disorder, balance disorder, CFS, seizure disorder, PUD, esophageal disorder other than GERD, diabetes, bladder disorder, and muscle disorder have also been denied. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to July 1, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a seizure disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizure disorder was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not otherwise related to a disease or injury during active service. The opinion provided by the VA examiner supports this conclusion.

The Veteran's tension headaches, partial complex seizures, and residuals of a shell fragment wound to the scalp are all found to be related to service. The Veteran's partial complex seizures and residuals of shell fragment wound to the scalp were not shown in service or post-service.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the claim for TBI residuals remains pending as there was insufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship with service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current seizure disorder is not related to his service or was caused by his service-connected PTSD, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to obtain relevant medical records and determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's asbestosis is rated at 100% since December 6, 2017. The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection of a seizure disorder due to lack of evidence establishing an organic pathology.

The Veteran's seizure disorder with narcolepsy is rated at 80 percent effective December 19, 2012. The Veteran's partial complex seizures prior to this date are rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not incurred or aggravated during active duty service. The Board finds that the preexisting condition did not worsen in service.,Service connection for a chronic GI disorder, including GERD, diverticulosis, and an esophageal stricture, is denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service and none are linked to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected psychomotor epilepsy does not cause any upper extremity, lower extremity, visual, hearing, or sphincter control impairment. Therefore, he is not entitled to SMC in excess of the 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) rate.