Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted as the evidence shows he suffered a TBI during his deployment in Iraq and has consequent residuals, including headaches, memory issues, sleep disturbances, and changes in mood.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection for a seizure disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between the claimed condition and service or any related conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection, aggravation of a preexisting condition during service, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to VA care.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of total social and occupational impairment. The issues of service connection for various conditions are remanded due to lack of definitive medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI and related seizure disorder are causally linked to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for lumbosacral spine disability and Bell's palsy was granted. The claim for epilepsy remains denied.,Bell's palsy is considered a current disability, but the evidence does not support its service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a seizure disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a seizure disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service onset of the condition and that it is not related to her service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Seizures, and Sleep Apnea due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The back disorder, TBI residuals, and seizure disorder claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for low back strain. The remaining claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, stroke, depression, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, arthritis, grand mal seizures, erectile dysfunction, kidney disorder, and lung disorder due to exposure to herbicides and asbestos. The appellant is required to submit new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, generalized convulsive seizures, and other issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's seizure disability. The remaining issues on appeal will be reconsidered after this development is completed.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a TBI and a seizure disorder, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service head injury. The other issues on appeal have been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure, posttraumatic stress disorder, prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for seizures and an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, and the claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the Board is unable to determine if he currently has a disability for VA purposes due to unreliable audiometry results. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for another VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of anthrax vaccination remains pending as new evidence suggests his seizure disorder may be related to the vaccine, but further review is needed.

The Board granted service connection for epilepsy effective November 19, 2019 and denied the claim of service connection for psychiatric disability prior to November 9, 2007. The VA pension benefits in the amount of $111,943.00 from December 1, 2007 through July 31, 2017 were also granted.