Epilepsy & seizure disorders Board decisions

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the July 2018 remand directives and has therefore ordered further development for the Veteran's claim of service connection for hemangioma of the face, to include resulting epilepsy.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining missing VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination. The Veteran's craniotomy and seizure disorder are being reviewed to determine if they were caused or made worse by the March 2007 extraction of tooth number 18.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 9, 2014 for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and seizures have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 40 percent for epilepsy, psychomotor type and service connection for depression remains pending as the RO increased his rating to 40 percent but did not grant him the maximum benefit of 100 percent.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various disabilities and a higher initial rating for a low back disability. The issues include whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a seizure disability, as well as multiple secondary service connection claims.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is not related to service and was noted on pre-induction examination prior to service.,There is no evidence of a current left shoulder or right shoulder disability, arthritis of the upper extremities, or left knee disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. The Veteran's current disabilities are not linked to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his claims for an increased disability rating and CUE in previous RO decisions. The issues are related, so they will be addressed together.

The Veteran's eye disability is presumed to be related to his service, including exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. However, there is no evidence that the current vision loss and glaucoma are directly related to his military service.,The Veteran's right knee disability may be related to combat activities in Vietnam, but a VA examination is needed to determine if this condition has a causal relationship with his service.

The Board has deferred action on the motion for CUE regarding the October 2009 rating decision as it could significantly impact the new and material evidence matter. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the new and material evidence issue.

The Veteran's daughter is found to meet the criteria of a 'helpless child' due to her significant mental and physical disabilities, which have not improved since birth. The claim for recognition as a helpless child is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased rating of grand mal seizures and TDIU due to a possible worsening since the last VA examination. Additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling an examination, is required.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection for vascular disease was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for ED is also denied.,Service connection for GAD with depressed features has been granted, but an effective date prior to March 15, 2012, is denied.,Service connection for tonic-clonic seizures with grand mal seizures and TBI are all denied as well, with no effective dates being granted.,The Veteran's initial rating for TBI was remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need to verify the Veteran's National Guard service and obtain any associated examination reports and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for a seizure disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined, and therefore both need to be addressed together.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder, now claimed as secondary to grand mal seizure disorder, is denied because there is no current diagnosis of a headache disorder and the evidence does not establish a link between the headaches and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for seizures has been reopened, but the Board finds that COPD and tinnitus were not related to his military service. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of tinnitus and effective dates for bilateral hearing loss have also been remanded.,Service connection was denied for COPD and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to failure to schedule VA examinations. The case is returned to the RO for further development and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's seizure disorder is related to service, specifically his head injury in October 1965.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 10 percent for hypertension is granted. The earlier effective date for hypertension remains denied. The Board has remanded the issues related to vertigo, fecal incontinence, urinary incontinence, brain damage (presumably due to hypertension), seizures, and memory loss.

The Board has remanded three issues: increased rating for chronic left hip strain, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), to include a seizure disorder, as secondary to the service-connected left ankle degenerative joint disease. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete VA examinations and missing Social Security Administration records.