The Board has denied service connection for pseudo-seizures related to stress due to anxiety and panic attacks associated with major depressive disorder, as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these seizures are proximately due to or the result of, or aggravated beyond their natural progression by service-connected major depressive disorder. The issue of an increased rating for major depressive disorder is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found no probative value in the Veteran's lay statements regarding his pseudo-seizures and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that these seizures were related to his service-connected major depressive disorder or any other in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Claimed conditions
- pseudo-seizures, major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19100144
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and knee conditions, and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected knee and ankle conditions. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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