Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total rating for compensation purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an effective date prior to September 29, 1959. The appeals were all dismissed as not well grounded.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, which grants him a higher evaluation than the previous 50 percent rating. The effective date remains to be determined as it was not specified in the decision.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected complex partial seizure disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical and employment information.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no clear diagnosis of PTSD due to a verified stressor in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for loss of visual acuity, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and seizure disorder are not well-grounded.

The Board found that there was no competent evidence linking the veteran's current depression to his service-connected migraine with history of idiopathic seizures. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to a request for a personal hearing at the RO.

The Board found no current diagnosis of schizophrenia and denied the claim for service connection. For seizure disorder, while there is a history of seizures during service, the evidence does not establish a nexus between the current condition and military service.

The Board denied service connection for a seizure disorder and a heart condition, including mitral valve disease. The veteran's claim was not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active naval service.

The Board has granted a 100% evaluation for an anxiety disorder and a 10 percent evaluation for a seizure disorder, effective September 3, 1992. The veteran is now eligible to receive attorney fees from past-due benefits resulting from this decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a seizure disorder, finding that it is not related to his head injury in service. The VA neurologist provided the most persuasive opinion against the claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seizure disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and a status post fracture right middle finger, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His combined schedular rating is 60 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for seizure disorder, finding that her seizures pre-existed service and were not aggravated by active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a left knee disorder and a seizure disorder, finding that new evidence did not provide sufficient material to reopen the previously denied claims.