Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining clarification of the Veteran's dates of service and for new medical opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a seizure disorder due to VA's failure to provide adequate VA examinations. The appellant was out of the country at various times during the examination process.

The Veteran's seizure disorder is rated at 100% disabling since September 27, 2010. The VA has granted a higher rating for this condition and also granted Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits effective from September 27, 2010. Special monthly compensation (SMC) was granted based on the Veteran's single service-connected disability of seizure disorder since May 9, 2018. The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 9, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational history.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and relevant evidence did not support readjudication of these claims. The TDIU claim was also denied as the Veteran's single service-connected condition (hiatal hernia) did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as his disabilities do not result in loss of use of one or both feet.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to service connection and increased ratings, resulting in the dismissal of these appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a seizure, finding no in-service injury or illness related to his current condition and insufficient evidence of continuity of symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a seizure disorder due to insufficient evidence in the Veteran's STRs regarding his reported symptoms during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of seizures and has not had one at any time during or recent to the filing of the claim, thus denying service connection for seizures.

The Veteran's son, J., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to his 18th birthday due to severe autism and seizure disorder. The Board granted the Veteran's request for recognition as a helpless child.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI and seizures due to inadequate completion of its January 2024 directives, requiring further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unverified in-service stressor. The RO is instructed to verify the veteran's military service, reconstruct their medical records, and verify the in-service stressor for PTSD.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected seizure disorder, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his seizures.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's seizure disorder prior to August 20, 2013. The case will be further developed by obtaining an addendum opinion from a psychiatrist.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, tonic-clonic seizures or grand mal epilepsy, systemic lupus erythematosus, bilateral hallux valgus, and other conditions has been remanded due to the need for further development.,An effective date earlier than March 6, 2022, for the award of service connection for asthma is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of headaches was granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of seizures or seizure-like symptoms, to include convulsions or disorientation, is remanded.

The appeal of service connection for seizure disorder (epilepsy) is dismissed. Service connection for congestive heart failure on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric and substance abuse disorder is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a seizure disorder, finding that it is due to his service-connected anxiety. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.