Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to incomplete service records and additional relevant evidence being associated with the record.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for multiple sclerosis, Wegener’s granulomatosis, seizures, bladder retention, and prostate cancer are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA opinion.

The Veteran's epilepsy disability is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a seizure disorder, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing the condition existed prior to service and that it did not worsen during service. The opinion provided by the VA examiner in October 2017 supported this conclusion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to additional medical records being added to the Veteran's claims file after the May 2019 Supplemental Statement of the Case. The AOJ needs to review these new records and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for brain disability, seizures, heart disability, and throat cancer. The decision found no current diagnoses or in-service occurrences that would support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including seizure disorder, PTSD, and chronic migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of TBI, aside from headaches, is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and missing service personnel records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a head injury, including seizures, and his request for an increased rating for right eye diplopia have both been denied by the Board.

The Board has ordered remand for a new VA examination to address the impact of service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's ability to dress, undress, and attend to personal hygiene needs. Additionally, a TBI examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has residuals from his reported traumatic brain injury (TBI), including a seizure disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability, low back disability, headaches, hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression), and seizure disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for irritable colon syndrome, chorea with seizures and convulsions (previously claimed as epilepsy), myasthenia gravis, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding current diagnoses or persistent symptoms. The Veteran's representative asserts that his neurological symptoms are related to his migraines and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: service connection for seizures secondary to a service-connected TBI and the increased rating for a TBI. The Veteran needs new examinations due to his testimony of increased symptoms and treatment records since February 2017.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection of heart disability, colon cancer, and seizure disorder. However, it denied these claims as there is no evidence that any current disabilities began during service or are related to in-service events or diseases, including herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain (claimed as back condition initial GWS) and service connection for epilepsy. The issue of a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is also remanded.