Epilepsy & seizure disorders Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a seizure disorder and anxiety disorder has been granted, with the seizure disorder being reopened due to new evidence. The anxiety disorder is found to be related to service.

The Board has added new evidence to the record and finds that remand is necessary for further development on multiple service connection claims.

The Veteran's seizure disorder rating was reduced from 80% to 20%, effective July 1, 2015. The Board found no material improvement in the condition and restored the original 80% rating.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD, but this is the date VA granted service connection.,The Veteran also seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for grand mal seizures, but this is the date VA granted service connection.

The Veteran's seizures and chronic fatigue have been granted service connection as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness.,Chronic daily headaches are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and service, particularly in relation to ischemic heart disease and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of PTSD, as well as TDIU due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, and seizure disorder. The Veteran's testimony indicates that his PTSD symptoms have worsened.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for non-epileptic seizure associated with residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), residuals of TBI, tension headaches, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with depressive disorder not otherwise specified and alcohol abuse, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at DLC from December 1, 2015 to December 3, 2015 were for a condition of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in obtaining treatment would have been hazardous to life or health. As a result, payment or reimbursement is granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for seizures has been reopened, and the case is remanded to develop evidence related to his claimed stressor incident. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to a head injury with seizures, finding that there was no credible evidence showing an in-service injury or diagnosis. The claim for accrued benefits was also denied as it is not related to service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a seizure disorder, residual of TBI. The claim for an acquired psychological condition (including PTSD) is remanded due to the need for further examination and determination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating of his disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for tinnitus is denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular disability rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus, type II are both denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were present during service or within one year after discharge.,Diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity is also denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection for a seizure disorder is denied based on the Veteran's denial of having such a condition.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for migraine headaches prior to March 22, 2016 remains pending. Service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right/left knee disabilities are also pending. The Veteran's request for TDIU is also pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations, as well as readjudication of his claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that he has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service in Vietnam, thus granting service connection for PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for pseudo-seizures related to stress due to anxiety and panic attacks associated with major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these symptoms and the Veteran's service-connected condition. The case is remanded for further review of the rating for major depressive disorder and TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a seizure disorder due to new evidence submitted since January 1954. The issue is now remanded for further development.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection of erectile dysfunction, headaches, and depressive disorder as secondary to his seizure disorder are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with loss of lumbar lordosis is denied. The claims for service connection for neck disorder, seizures, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded. A TDIU is granted beginning no later than August 15, 2012.