The Veteran's seizure disorder is granted as service-connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claim for respiratory disorder is reopened and the Board finds new evidence supports reopening, but does not grant service connection. Muscle spasms are remanded for further development. Digestive issues related to Camp Lejeune exposure are also remanded. Right knee disability secondary to left knee disability is remanded. A rating in excess of 10% for left knee disability is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found new evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for respiratory disorder, but did not grant service connection as the etiology was not established based on asbestos exposure alone.
- Claimed conditions
- Seizure disorder, Respiratory disorder (as due to asbestos exposure), Muscle spasms, Digestive disorder (likely gastroesophageal reflux disease or Barrett's esophagus), Blood clot disorder (deep vein thrombosis)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 31, 2018
- Citation
- 18122779
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18122779.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a seizure disorder rating of 20 percent is denied as the evidence does not show that his condition increased in severity within one year after separation from service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine disability, and seizure disorder, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, the Board has granted his TDIU application.
- Denied
The Veteran's seizure disorder is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as he has not had any seizures in over two years.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the cause of death and its relation to service, including in-service dental treatment. The Veteran died from acute renal failure, metastatic melanoma, cerebral metastasis, or seizure disorder.
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