Epilepsy & seizure disorders Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of bronchial asthma, service connection for residuals of a head injury, and service connection for epilepsy are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claims. The Board found no evidence linking current psychiatric, seizure, varicose vein, or headache conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service records and conducting medical examinations, is necessary to properly adjudicate these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a pituitary brain tumor with depression and a seizure disorder have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The evidence submitted does not provide credible medical evidence linking these conditions to her active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating were denied. The RO granted service connection for tension headaches associated with seizure disorders, but assigned a noncompensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to missed or cancelled examinations and incomplete records.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of heat injury and assigned a 20 percent rating, effective May 10, 2000. The Veteran's disability picture prior to September 16, 2008 is most nearly approximates the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a head injury, including seizures and memory loss. The case is being remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 4, 1986 is granted. The effective date of this decision is August 4, 1986.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of reopening his seizure disorder service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and a seizure disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of either condition and insufficient evidence to establish a link between them and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for seizure disorder, myasthenia gravis, and memory problems. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluations, and TDIU are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to determine if the Veteran's death was causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected seizure disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than September 20, 1999 for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for partial complex seizures and whether the termination of special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound status was proper. The issue regarding the termination of a separate evaluation for service-connected headaches, dizziness and lightheadedness as a result of head trauma is pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to inadequate notice provided to the Veteran.

The Veteran's epilepsy was rated at 80 percent from December 3, 2005 to April 30, 2008 and at 60 percent from May 1, 2008. The effective dates for these ratings are based on the date of separation from service (December 3, 2005) and the date of the hearing before a decision review officer (May 1, 2008).

The Veteran's cause of death is being reviewed due to his service-connected right peroneal neuropathy and the VA medical care he received. The RO will also consider whether he was entitled to benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.