Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pluriglandular syndrome, seizures, and chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.,A VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart condition and a seizure disorder due to incomplete records regarding the Veteran's service in the Army Reserve and Massachusetts Army National Guard. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining relevant service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran is required to attend rescheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart condition. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining additional evidence and a new VA opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, left knee disability, hypertension, seizure disability, and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need to address the issue of service connection for hypertension in an SSOC.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for focal seizures as a residual of an in-service head injury or due to his service-connected depressive neurosis, organic brain disorder, and dementia has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is service-connected. The claim for service connection for seizures and right knee disability was reopened due to new evidence received since the April 2005 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating from March 1, 2011. The appeal period prior to January 28, 2011 is not considered as she was employed during that time.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals regarding the issues of a higher initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for Grand Mal Seizures.

The Board found that the Veteran's seizure disorders were not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his seizure disorder was granted and effective as of September 5, 2012. The effective date is not earlier than July 29, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to April 8, 2016 or a higher rating thereafter for bilateral hearing loss. For tinnitus, the Board also found no basis for a higher rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has found that the VA examinations are inadequate and requires further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for seizure disorder and traumatic brain injury has been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals of TBI due to lack of evidence supporting such a rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizure disability, which is attributable to a known diagnosis, was not incurred in service or related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.