Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2024

The Veteran's adopted child, S.L.M., is recognized as a helpless child due to her disabilities prior to the age of 18.

The Veteran's cause of death is due to acute respiratory failure, which the VA does not consider service-connected. The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of death and did not find any basis for non-service-connected burial benefits or transportation reimbursement.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and seizure disorder, as well as his claim for a TDIU rating prior to August 10, 2022, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered, and a new examination is required to determine if he requires aid and attendance or is housebound due to his conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for seizures, finding that there was no current disability during the appeal period or shortly prior to it.

The Board denied service connection for seizures, tremors, and shakes as the evidence did not show a chronic disease in service or continuous symptoms after service.

The Veteran's seizures have not averaged at least one major seizure per month prior to November 4, 2020, and have not averaged at least one major seizure in four months since that date. Therefore, the claim for higher ratings is denied.

The Board granted a Level 2 stipend in the PCAFC program for the Veteran due to his need for continuous supervision, protection, or instruction as determined by the April 2023 VFAI evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates of January 27, 2017. The conditions are related to her service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient verification of in-service stressors and incomplete development. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, may be related to his service, but a definitive opinion is needed. The seizure disability may also be linked to his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's death was due to a seizure on May 11, 2018. The VA denied the claim as it did not involve beneficiary travel or payment for medical transportation. The Board has now remanded the case to determine if the Veteran's epilepsy qualifies under 38 U.S.C. § 1728.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current seizure disorder, pinched nerve in neck, or pinched nerve in left lower extremity. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a left upper extremity condition is remanded as it involves an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's testimony and military personnel records suggest he may have had a mood disorder during service, but the Board finds insufficient evidence to establish a current disability or link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Seizure Disorder and TDIU prior to October 31, 2020 claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the need for a VA examination that considers only the service-connected disability's impact on the Veteran's ability to care for himself and whether he is substantially confined to his dwelling due to service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs a new medical opinion regarding whether PTSD contributed to the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service or aggravated by his seizures.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin condition (athlete's foot), nasal condition (nasal polyps, sinusitis) and neurological condition (epilepsy).

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding her neck injury in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, seizure disorder, and hepatitis C due to incomplete opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his headaches that began during service in 1985 from flash burns, his seizure disorder related to substance abuse, and his hepatitis C possibly linked to receiving a tattoo.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for seizure disorder and migraine headaches, as well as service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding medical records and additional development.