Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2023

The Board has restored service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and epilepsy as secondary to service-connected residuals of a TBI, effective from December 1, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for complex partial seizures has been reopened, and a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his condition.,A VA psychiatric examination is required to assess the presence and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, MDD, and unspecified anxiety disorder).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an epileptic seizure disorder, and headaches due to their inextricably intertwined nature. The VA is required to provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. Service connection is now established for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), seizures, and obstructive sleep apnea.,However, the Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and a medical opinion regarding the service connection claim.

The Veteran's seizures and resulting back disability are granted, while the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure condition and hypertension. The issues are being remanded due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decisions, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are evidence of his seizures.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for epilepsy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any major seizures or minor seizures within the required timeframes.

The Board has granted reimbursement for medical expenses incurred on June 13, 1996, at Walker Baptist Medical Center due to the Veteran's service-connected seizure disorder and the emergent nature of his condition.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of a seizure disorder due to lack of jurisdiction, as it was already decided in a previous July 2023 decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for GERD, seizure disorder, and hypertension. The dental disability case is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left side numbness, epilepsy, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain relevant medical opinions and to verify in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran has a current diagnosis of a seizure disorder, whether it began during service or is related to an incident of service, and whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted under the PACT Act, but an effective date prior to August 10, 2022 is not established due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected epilepsy, grand mal seizures is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to determine the current severity of her condition and whether she should be evaluated for additional disability due to related mental disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was granted, and her MDD rating was increased to 70 percent effective February 13, 2014. The effective dates for the other claims were denied.

Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicide agents is granted.,Service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act is granted.,Service connection for a kidney disability as secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus is granted.,Service connection for residuals of strokes, including as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicide agents and service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension, is remanded.,Service connection for seizure disorder, including as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicide agents and service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, is remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted service connection as they were shown to be related to her in-service motorcycle accident. The Veteran's pre-cancer of the cervix is remanded for a VA examination and opinion regarding its relationship to exposure at Camp Lejeune. Her stroke and seizures are also remanded for a VA examination and opinion regarding their relationship to exposure at Camp Lejeune, as well as whether they are related to her service-connected TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the Veteran's seizures prior to August 20, 2013. The Veteran will need a new medical opinion to address the adequacy of the April 2021 VA opinion and its consideration of relevant private opinions.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection. The case is therefore being returned to the Regional Office for further development.