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 assigned
- None in this 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18138360.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.