Epilepsy & seizure disorders decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Prinzmetal's angina, seizure disorder, and a psychiatric disability (including depression and social phobia), finding no link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed seizure disorder, and his facial fractures with sinusitis and septoplasty residuals do not warrant an increased evaluation. The right knee fracture with degenerative changes is currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, post concussion syndrome with temporal lobe partial seizures, and spastic colitis) preclude her from engaging in substantially gainful employment due to her PTSD and seizure disorder. As a result, the VA has granted TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected seizure disorder warrants a 20 percent disability rating, reflecting minor seizure episodes one to two times per week.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating from 80% to 10% was proper. The veteran's seizure disorder, which had been rated at 80%, is now rated at 20% effective December 8, 2001, and then at 40% until June 7, 2002, before reverting back to 20%. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for her low back pain syndrome and service connection for a seizure disorder. The veteran's initial seizures occurred at home, not during periods of active duty for training or inactive duty training.

The Board has determined that the appellant's seizure disorder and PTSD are service-connected, with no presumption or secondary connection involved.

The Board has determined that the veteran's seizure disorder with headaches and nosebleeds warrants an increased evaluation to 80 percent, based on more than 10 minor seizures weekly over the last year.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, skin disorder, genitourinary disorder, bilateral knee disability, and tinnitus. The claim of reopening a seizure disorder was also denied.

The veteran's grandchildren, B.C. and K.M., are not recognized as his adopted children for VA purposes due to the natural mother of the children still being in custody.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a head injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented.

The Board denied an increased rating for left temporal seizures and a compensable rating for dyshidrosis of the hands, finding that the evidence did not support evaluations greater than those assigned.

The VA determined that the veteran's seizure disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his seizures were not severe enough to warrant an increased evaluation.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of the veteran's seizure disorder to 80 percent, effective from October 12, 2001. The decision also addressed secondary service connection claims for headaches and fatigue related to the seizure disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's epilepsy, which is service-connected, contributed to his death due to an epileptic seizure. As a result, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.