Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and for further development.

The Veteran's son, G.B., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to the age of 18 due to various disabilities and thus meets the criteria for recognition as a helpless child.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting his assertions, including right kidney removal, seizure disorder, and serotonin syndrome.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's heart condition and seizures are related to his service, specifically due to herbicide exposure in Korea. The decision is remanded for further investigation into the Veteran's unit history and verification of their location.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for mental and seizure disabilities have been reopened. The Board has requested additional medical opinions to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as their relationship to service.

The Board has not made a decision on the service connection claim for seizure disorder due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, but has remanded it for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical records from SSA and private sources.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral upper extremity neurological disabilities, including a focal motor seizure disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and ulnar sensory neuropathy, are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's seizure disorder. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's seizure disorder is related to his military service, including his claimed environmental exposures in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations and opinions to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected post traumatic encephalopathy and seizure disorder, as well as whether he is unemployable due to these conditions. The TDIU claim will be referred for extraschedular consideration if appropriate.

The Board denied service connection for seizures and memory loss, both of which the Veteran claimed were due to undiagnosed illnesses or other qualifying chronic disabilities under 38 U.S.C. § 1117.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of either condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to outstanding private treatment records and inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran is also seeking nonservice-connected pension, but his claim remains pending as he filed another claim after the initial denial.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic arthritis of the joints other than cervical spine and great toes, as well as bilateral great toe disability and stroke and seizure disability is denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected hepatitis C or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's complex partial seizures, including whether they are related to Gulf War service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for residuals of concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI), seizures, and right eye condition due to deficiencies in the examination reports. Additional opinions are needed from a VA physician regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's petit mal seizures are rated at 40 percent prior to January 11, 2017 and no higher.,The Veteran's petit mal seizures since January 11, 2017 do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 80 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with pseudoseizures is rated at 70% for the entire rating period beginning December 14, 2010. A separate initial 20% rating for pseudoseizures is granted but does not affect the overall PTSD rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, Type II and seizures have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of in-service injury or illness related to these conditions.,There was insufficient information provided by the Veteran regarding herbicide exposure during his Okinawa service, which prevented a determination on this basis.

The Veteran's seizure disorder is granted as service-connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claim for respiratory disorder is reopened and the Board finds new evidence supports reopening, but does not grant service connection. Muscle spasms are remanded for further development. Digestive issues related to Camp Lejeune exposure are also remanded. Right knee disability secondary to left knee disability is remanded. A rating in excess of 10% for left knee disability is also remanded.