Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2023

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury and epilepsy, as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for seizures/essential tremors due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining 18 years of age, finding that the evidence did not support such a determination.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for malunion or nonunion of the mandible and denied service connection for a seizure disorder. The Veteran's jaw disability was rated as moderate, and her seizure/syncopial episode was attributed to medication changes rather than a neurological disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions and incomplete evidence. The Veteran's death is being considered, but service connection for cause of death remains in dispute.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, residuals of TBI, and seizures were denied as the evidence did not establish a direct relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's seizure disorder. The case will be reviewed again with additional development and a new opinion from a neurologist.

The Board has granted a 100% rating for service-connected seizure condition from September 28, 2013 and has also granted service connection for pelvic condition.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, and thus remands the case for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since November 27, 2018. The seizure disorder was not related to service.,VA has granted Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) effective from October 22, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed seizure disorder. The Veteran needs to provide updated VA treatment records, undergo a neurological examination, and be provided with an opinion on whether her seizures are related to service or her service-connected low back disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the service connection claim for vertigo, to include epilepsy, as the Veteran requested withdrawal of this issue prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations need to be scheduled in order to determine if the Veteran's migraine headaches, occipital neuralgia, and neurological condition including seizures are related to service.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its remand instructions and thus the case must be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, seizures as secondary to hypertension, and suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm as secondary to hypertension are all granted. The PACT Act is applied in the decision regarding hypertension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected epilepsy, but more information is needed to determine if the sleep apnea was aggravated by the epilepsy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the diagnosed conditions. The Veteran's schizophrenia is presumed preexisting, and further examination is needed to determine if it was aggravated by service or natural progression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these claims. The claim for residuals of a gunshot wound (GSW) of the left ankle was also denied.

The Veteran's malaria is inactive and does not warrant a compensable rating.,From January 16, 2016, the Veteran has been found unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted after the appeal was transferred to the Board and a waiver of RO review was sought. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is remanded as no SSOC addressing this issue has been issued.