Epilepsy & seizure disorders Board decisions

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 4, 2015 for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.

The Board granted an effective date of September 26, 2021, for the award of an initial 100 percent rating for seizures and related benefits.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including a low back disability, neck disability, nerve damage of the neck, back, and hip, liver cirrhosis, stroke, migraines, ovarian disability, heart disability, seizure disorder, and right ear disability.

The Board granted service connection for a seizure condition, finding it to be related to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Board granted an initial rating of 80 percent for tonic clonic seizures, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, right and left upper and lower extremity idiopathic polyneuropathy, effective from April 20, 2015. The seizure disorder claim was remanded.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for epilepsy, psychomotor and service connection for right middle finger scar. Several claims were withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected TBI with cognitive disorder and status post seizure prophylaxis with vertigo.

The Board denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrist, a seizure disorder, an inguinal hernia, an acquired psychiatric disability, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for a traumatic brain injury and remanded the claim for service connection for a seizure disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a seizure disorder, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder as the evidence did not support a direct or secondary relationship to military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a headache condition, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), fatigue condition, and seizure condition due to procedural defects in the modernized review system.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for TBI residuals (to include headaches, fatigue, and seizures) for accrued benefits purposes to obtain a retrospective etiological opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for epileptic seizures and migraine headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board granted an effective date of January 18, 2022, for the grant of service connection for epilepsy/seizure disorder and a 40 percent rating.

The Board granted service connection for cyst tumor on pineal gland effective October 1, 2024, and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for epilepsy. Service connection was also granted for bruxism and urinary incontinence as secondary to epilepsy, while right hip pain was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his seizure disorder and entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was no evidence showing that he had experienced at least one major seizure in the last two years or two minor seizures in the last six months, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8911. The Board also found that his combined disability rating did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied higher ratings for migraine headaches and TBI, granted a 20 percent rating for grand mal epilepsy prior to January 23, 2024, and a 70 percent rating for TBI from April 17, 2024. It also restored the separate evaluation for TBI and granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD and schizoaffective disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a 100 percent rating from February 14, 2023, and increased ratings were granted for his diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities.