Epilepsy & seizure disorders Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected tonic-clonic seizures are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in previous opinions and a need for further medical evaluation regarding whether service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the Board denied a higher rating.,Prior to March 8, 2013, the Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for his anxiety and cognitive disorder, but not more. The Board also denied a higher rating for epilepsy prior to that date.,Beginning March 8, 2013, the Veteran's epilepsy is rated as 80 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause him to be in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound, nor are they independently ratable at 60 percent. Therefore, the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or on housebound status have not been met.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current complex partial seizures are related to his in-service football injury during basic training. Additional medical records and an examination are needed.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted as his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the appellant's seizure disorder, including a need for VA examination and obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to insufficient evidence or lack of proper examination. The Veteran needs to provide treatment records from Mexico, undergo a VA examination for his seizure disability, and receive a new etiology opinion regarding his psychiatric diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his employment in a family-owned funeral home and other part-time work did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the appeal is remanded to clarify his current diagnosis and determine if any of his symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's death was caused by an acute myocardial infarct, but the Board is unable to determine if he served in the territorial sea of Vietnam and therefore cannot decide his claim for service connection.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% disability rating for his service-connected seizure disorder, effective October 1, 2019. The reduction from 100% to 80% was not proper as there is no evidence of material improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for seizure disorder and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 6, 2014 for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance was granted. This aligns with the date he received service connection for seizures.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a seizure disorder is granted. The Board has also remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his vasovagal syncope.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional service connection claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's seizure disorder may be related to her service-connected anxiety disorder, but more information is needed from a medical examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, seizure disorder, and mood disorder require the need for regular aid and attendance of others due to their disabling manifestations. The Board has granted entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for extraschedular consideration prior to March 3, 2014.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and hypertension. The claim for a seizure disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a seizure disorder, while the claim for hypertension is remanded due to potential secondary relationship with service-connected schizophrenia.