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Active Duty Epilepsy PEB
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 19:28Hi, I'm an E-4, Sonar Tech Submarines in the USN right now and I'm in the middle of my IPEB process. I've had 34 grand mal seizures, plus I have eye witnesses from my girlfriend and brother plus a sleep test showing that I have seizures in my sleep and I have petit seizures who knows how often. I've broken my neck in two places and had stitches in four places on my face and broke three teeth from grand mal seizures. My seizures have gotten to the point where they last over five minutes and my doctor says that isn't good, my longest seizure was 18 minutes long and they had to bring me back. This has all occured since April of 2008 and I was curious what you think the VA and the USN would rate my disability?
My doctor says my epilepsy is caused by stress, but I don't think thats what is causing it. Anything you guys would have to input would be very helpful. Thanks in advance
Comments
Re: Active Duty Epilepsy PEB
Submitted by jmd2007 on Sat, 2009-09-26 - 23:46
I was in the Air Force when I started having seizures. I was a cadet at the Air Force Academy, and I had my first seizure during my junior year. The Academy medical review cleared me to graduate and be commissioned, but I had to go to Lackland for an Air Force run medical review. They, too, cleared me to graduate and be commissioned, but the Pentagon had the final say and overturned the board. No commission, but I at least graduated.
At the time the review started, I had only one seizure, although I've had three more since then. I'm rated at 10%, but clearly I have not had the same level of epilepsy as you, so I would expect higher.
Read this: 38 CFR Book C Schedule for Rating Disabilities (http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/bookc.html#c)
Neurological disorders are Section 4.124a.
All the best.
I was in the Air Force when I started having seizures. I was a cadet at the Air Force Academy, and I had my first seizure during my junior year. The Academy medical review cleared me to graduate and be commissioned, but I had to go to Lackland for an Air Force run medical review. They, too, cleared me to graduate and be commissioned, but the Pentagon had the final say and overturned the board. No commission, but I at least graduated.
At the time the review started, I had only one seizure, although I've had three more since then. I'm rated at 10%, but clearly I have not had the same level of epilepsy as you, so I would expect higher.
Read this: 38 CFR Book C Schedule for Rating Disabilities (http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/bookc.html#c)
Neurological disorders are Section 4.124a.
All the best.
Re: Active Duty Epilepsy PEB
Submitted by Ruizdesign on Sun, 2009-11-01 - 21:25
Howdy Kyle:
I was injured while training the Honduran army to fight against the Sandinistas during the 80's. The VA has a rating system that says that if you endure an average of 1 major seizure (grand mal) per month over the last year you will be given a rating of 100%. (check out the rating schedule attached to the post below) I've been rated at 100% for some time now and I have trouble controlling my seizures. It took some appeals after eeg's and all the other b.s. since proof will be needed. There are several organizations in the VA that render assistance to Vets. in need of representation i.e. DAV. But you got it buddy. Don't give up. Good luck. By the way- those seizures you are describing are lasting a very very long time and those injuries sound very serious. Take care of that buddy. Stress also triggers my seizures so get a Neuro's diagnosis.
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES !!!!
Louie / E-4 Combat Engineer
Howdy Kyle:
I was injured while training the Honduran army to fight against the Sandinistas during the 80's. The VA has a rating system that says that if you endure an average of 1 major seizure (grand mal) per month over the last year you will be given a rating of 100%. (check out the rating schedule attached to the post below) I've been rated at 100% for some time now and I have trouble controlling my seizures. It took some appeals after eeg's and all the other b.s. since proof will be needed. There are several organizations in the VA that render assistance to Vets. in need of representation i.e. DAV. But you got it buddy. Don't give up. Good luck. By the way- those seizures you are describing are lasting a very very long time and those injuries sound very serious. Take care of that buddy. Stress also triggers my seizures so get a Neuro's diagnosis.
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES !!!!
Louie / E-4 Combat Engineer
Re: Active Duty Epilepsy PEB
Submitted by iraq on Sat, 2009-09-26 - 20:59
My husband retired after 22 years in the Army, 3 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, seizures started 3 years later due to PTSD. EEG was Normal! He was misdiagnosed and put on Depakote ER for a year. Side effects included nervousness, hypothermia, depression, paranoia, overwhelming fear, memory loss, fear of losing his mind, aggression, lost blocks of time, panic attacks that often lead to grand mal seizures, life to the point of not being able to go outside and more. We finally found a neurologist who knew it might be Psychogenic Non=Epileptic seizures, explaining why anti seizure meds will not work!
The Truth about Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures vs Epileptic Seizures..........LIFE SAVING ARTICLE:
http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/ar_1116430870.html
This link will explain a lot about how many people are misdiagnosed for years, Dr Benbadis is our new doctor who saved my husband's life this week. He has stopped anti epileptic drugs and is getting healthier everyday. His seizures came with a short warning of stress, panic attack, confusion, staring, pacing then slowly fall to the ground and convulse, these can not be controlled with anti-seizure meds because they are not an electro abnormality in the brain such as Epileptic seizures (neurological issue). These Non-Epileptic seizures are now stopped by taking 5mg valium as needed for stress and psychiatric treatment for traumas experienced.
My husband retired after 22 years in the Army, 3 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, seizures started 3 years later due to PTSD. EEG was Normal! He was misdiagnosed and put on Depakote ER for a year. Side effects included nervousness, hypothermia, depression, paranoia, overwhelming fear, memory loss, fear of losing his mind, aggression, lost blocks of time, panic attacks that often lead to grand mal seizures, life to the point of not being able to go outside and more. We finally found a neurologist who knew it might be Psychogenic Non=Epileptic seizures, explaining why anti seizure meds will not work!
The Truth about Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures vs Epileptic Seizures..........LIFE SAVING ARTICLE:
http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/ar_1116430870.html
This link will explain a lot about how many people are misdiagnosed for years, Dr Benbadis is our new doctor who saved my husband's life this week. He has stopped anti epileptic drugs and is getting healthier everyday. His seizures came with a short warning of stress, panic attack, confusion, staring, pacing then slowly fall to the ground and convulse, these can not be controlled with anti-seizure meds because they are not an electro abnormality in the brain such as Epileptic seizures (neurological issue). These Non-Epileptic seizures are now stopped by taking 5mg valium as needed for stress and psychiatric treatment for traumas experienced.