Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2018

The Board denied DIC benefits based on the cause of death, finding that the Veteran's lung cancer was not related to service and did not contribute to his death. The primary cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest with seizure disorder as a contributing factor.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was denied. The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 1, 2011 to February 3, 2013 was granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to his service-connected seizure disorder, which the Board found as the principal cause of death.

The claim of service connection for back disability and seizure disorder has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizure disorder and headache disorder did not develop as a result of his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pluriglandular syndrome, seizures, and chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.,A VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran is required to attend rescheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart condition and a seizure disorder due to incomplete records regarding the Veteran's service in the Army Reserve and Massachusetts Army National Guard. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining relevant service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart condition. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining additional evidence and a new VA opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, left knee disability, hypertension, seizure disability, and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need to address the issue of service connection for hypertension in an SSOC.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for focal seizures as a residual of an in-service head injury or due to his service-connected depressive neurosis, organic brain disorder, and dementia has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a seizure disorder because no new and material evidence was submitted, and the existing evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing asthma was aggravated by his active service. Service connection for epilepsy is denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it existed prior to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by seizures, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a seizure disorder and that the Veteran's black-outs are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and related neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since at least March 9, 2011. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective from July 20, 2015.

The Veteran's 40 percent rating for generalized tonic-clonic seizure disorder is restored, effective November 1, 2015.

The Veteran's epilepsy is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for low back disability has been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim. The claim remains denied.,The Veteran's stroke residuals are not service connected due to lack of direct or secondary service connection.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied.

The claim for service connection for memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease has not been reopened.,Service connection for heart surgery with stints is denied.

The Veteran's brain tumor, headaches, depression, sleep disorder (insomnia), and seizure disorder are all granted service connection as secondary to the primary condition of a brain tumor. The Veteran also has service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a seizure disorder (blackouts), headaches, and angioneurotic edema as the Veteran's claims were not supported by credible evidence of in-service stressors or medical diagnoses.