The Veteran's epilepsy is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for low back disability has been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim. The claim remains denied.,The Veteran's stroke residuals are not service connected due to lack of direct or secondary service connection.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the competent medical evidence does not support a higher rating for epilepsy, as the Veteran’s statements regarding her seizure frequency and nature are deemed inconsistent with objective medical records.,No new and material evidence has been received to reopen the low back disability claim. The July 2004 denial was based on lack of competent medical evidence pertaining to aggravation of a preexisting condition.,The March 2017 VA clinician's opinion concluded that the Veteran’s strokes are not proximately due to or the result of her service-connected epilepsy, thus secondary service connection is denied.,VA determined that the schedular rating criteria for a TDIU rating are not met and referral for consideration of a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis is not warranted.
- Claimed conditions
- Epilepsy, Low back disability (previously denied), Left-sided weakness, lower extremity, Left-sided weakness, upper extremity, Decreased sensation, left side of face
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18138360
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18138360.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's adult child, R.F., is not considered permanently incapable of self-support prior to turning 18 years old and thus does not meet the criteria for survivor benefits.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU is granted effective March 27, 2013, as he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities since that date.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal as the May 24, 2021 rating decision proposing to reduce the evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy from 80 percent to 10 percent was not a final action and thus not ripe for review.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's epilepsy is granted at a 40 percent evaluation from March 3, 2017 to February 15, 2019. After February 15, 2019, the Veteran's epilepsy is denied for any higher rating.
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