Epilepsy & seizure disorders Board decisions

The Board is remanding the case for proper notice regarding the last final denial of the claim in February 1989, and to ensure that the Veteran is informed about what evidence is needed to reopen his seizure disorder claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed on a de novo basis due to the liberalizing regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for her thoracolumbar spine, left ankle injury, rhinitis with sinusitis, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's neck disorder is service-connected, but his claimed residuals of a head injury are not considered related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder and seizure disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions during service or related to herbicide exposure. The inguinal hernia was found not recurrent and the gunshot wound scar was deemed noncompensable.

The Board has ordered additional development due to missing records and the Veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled VA examination. The case is being remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected personality change disorder, as well as his claimed heat stroke and seizure disorders.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of residuals of head injury, epilepsy, and enlarged heart. However, the Veteran's claims for schizophrenia, PTSD, and seizures were previously denied in March 1998 and have not been reopened.

The Board finds that the Veteran's pre-existing seizure disorder was aggravated by his active service, warranting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, finding no competent or credible evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The appellant withdrew her appeal for DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's head injury residuals with seizures and memory loss were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year post-service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's brain tumor with residual seizure disorder is related to his in-service exposure to non-ionizing radiation, specifically microwave-type non-ionizing radiation from radio transmitters and antennas.,There is no evidence of osteoporosis being service-connected. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's osteoporosis is related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's son, [redacted], was not permanently incapable of self-support by reason of mental or physical defect at the date of attaining the age of 18 years and thus cannot be recognized as his helpless child for VA benefit purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and the VA examiner found no evidence to support this condition. The service-connected seizure disorder is not considered as causing or aggravating the claimed chronic fatigue.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a seizure disorder and granted it, finding new and material evidence to support the claim. The Veteran's seizures are found to have existed prior to service but were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for epilepsy, depression secondary to epilepsy, and irritable bowel syndrome secondary to epilepsy are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the case is incomplete and requires additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and a VA examination to evaluate the appellant's seizure disorder.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Maine General Medical Center on October 4, 2008 were reimbursed as the condition was an emergent one and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.