Epilepsy & seizure disorders Board decisions

The Veteran's partial seizures, major depressive disorder, and cognitive disorder are rated at a combined 70 percent since December 8, 2008. The effective dates for these ratings need to be determined based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for invasive pituitary adenoma (claimed as brain tumor), with associated shortness of breath and nerve damage is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, while other claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's diagnosis of probable pseudoseizures, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran is granted staged initial ratings of 20 percent from November 16, 2011 through May 2, 2014 and a 40 percent rating from May 3, 2014 through June 5, 2015 for psychomotor epilepsy. He is denied a staged initial rating in excess of 10 percent from June 6, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for epilepsy, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service and that the current diagnosis is not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with opiate use disorder and stimulant use disorder in early remission is rated at 70 percent prior to March 2, 2018, and after May 1, 2018. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.,Service connection for hepatitis C is remanded due to lack of VA treatment records from TrustPoint Hospital.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1815 and § 1805 as she does not meet the legal criteria to qualify for benefits due to her father's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The appeal for entitlement to service connection for a seizure disorder is dismissed. The case of schizophrenia remains under review and will be remanded.

Entitlement to initial ratings for headaches and seizures has been granted.,For headaches, a 10% rating is granted effective September 30, 2008, with a 30% rating from June 20, 2015 onwards. For seizures, a 10% rating is granted prior to September 20, 2017, and an 80% rating is granted thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's episodes of temporary unconsciousness or paralysis are better understood as panic attacks associated with service-connected PTSD or as symptoms of a separate seizure disorder. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acne vulgaris, migraine headaches, vertigo, and seizure disability has been granted. The claims for migraine headaches and vertigo are denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the Board found that the current disabilities are not related to service. The claim for seizure disability was also denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided to the Veteran are inadequate and remands several issues for further development, including a new examination for hypothyroidism and cardiac arrhythmia. The claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, hypoglycemic seizures, lumbar strain, left knee disability, right knee disability, mitral valve prolapse, and sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for right leg disability, seizure disorder, and memory loss disorder.

An increased rating of 100 percent disabling for a seizure disability from August 29, 2012 to August 14, 2014 is granted.,A rating in excess of 80 percent disabling for a seizure disability from August 14, 2014 to May 30, 2016 is denied. A rating in excess of 40 percent disabling after May 30, 2016 is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability (other than scoliosis) as secondary to the service-connected anxiety disorder. The claim for service connection for scoliosis is denied, and the claim for service connection for seizure disorder, to include as secondary to the low back disability, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI-related issues and bilateral hip/knee conditions, were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, seizure disorder, right knee condition, and bilateral leg condition as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has remanded the appellant's appeal for further development regarding her claim to be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA death pension benefits, and for service connection claims. The underlying issues are inextricably intertwined with this recognition.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for narcolepsy-type seizures, and has remanded the claim for service connection for lymphatic filariasis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back disorder, neck disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral foot calluses, bilateral foot fungus, sleep disorder (secondary to back disorder and restless leg syndrome), and seizure disorder.