Seizure Disorder — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Seizure Disorder
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960C-11 (Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy)) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Seizure Disorder — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Seizure Disorder, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Seizure Disorder
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.124a, DC 8910 (grand mal) and DC 8911 (petit mal), General Rating Formula for Major and Minor Epileptic Seizures. Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
A confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy with a history of seizures. When continuous medication is necessary to control epilepsy, the minimum evaluation is 10 percent.
At least 1 major seizure in the last 2 years; or at least 2 minor seizures in the last 6 months.
At least 1 major seizure in the last 6 months or 2 in the last year; or averaging at least 5 to 8 minor seizures weekly.
Averaging at least 1 major seizure in 4 months over the last year; or 9 to 10 minor seizures per week.
Averaging at least 1 major seizure in 3 months over the last year; or more than 10 minor seizures weekly.
Averaging at least 1 major seizure per month over the last year.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Seizure Disorder raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Seizure Disorder claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
Neurology, 2023 · PMID 38030395
Finding: In a cohort of 938,890 post-9/11 veterans, penetrating TBI was strongly associated with epilepsy among deployed veterans (adjusted OR 5.33, 95% CI 4.89-5.81), and moderate/severe TBI carried elevated odds in both deployed (aOR 2.01) and nondeployed (aOR 2.92) veterans.
Why it helps: Large modern VA/DoD study supporting an association between service-related traumatic brain injury, including combat/blast-related penetrating injury, and the later development of epilepsy in veterans.
Neurology, 1985 · PMID 3929158
Finding: Of 421 veterans with penetrating brain wounds in Vietnam, 53% developed post-traumatic epilepsy; relative risk was roughly 580 times the age-matched general population in the first year, remaining about 25 times higher after 10 years.
Why it helps: Landmark long-term veteran cohort supporting a strong, durable association between combat penetrating head injury and seizure disorder, with risk persisting many years after injury.
Archives of Neurology, 1986 · PMID 3089201
Finding: In a 15-year follow-up of 520 veterans surviving penetrating brain wounds from the Vietnam war, patients remained at increased risk of epilepsy even 10-15 years post-injury, with onset latency independent of identified risk factors.
Why it helps: Supports an association between penetrating service-connected head injury and delayed-onset seizures, helping explain why epilepsy can emerge years after the original in-service injury.
Brain Injury, 2015 · PMID 25541640
Finding: In a prospective study of over half a million active-duty US Air Force Airmen, mild TBI was positively associated with epilepsy/recurrent seizure outcomes (along with post-concussive syndrome and pain disorders), with hazard ratios highest within the first 30 days and decreasing over time.
Why it helps: Supports an association between even mild service-related TBI/concussion and subsequent seizure disorder in a large military population, relevant where a veteran's only documented injury was a mild concussion.
Military Medicine, 2025 · PMID 41172126
Finding: This military medicine case report describes two patients who developed post-traumatic epilepsy with recurrent seizures after exposure to explosive blasts in war zones, confirmed with video-EEG and advanced imaging.
Why it helps: Illustrative clinical evidence (case report) supporting an association between combat blast exposure and the onset of seizures, useful for the blast-injury exposure angle though lower in evidentiary weight than cohort studies.
Epilepsia, 2005 · nexus to PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety · PMID 16146437
Finding: Among male veterans in a VA seizure clinic, those with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) had significantly higher rates of chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD than veterans with epileptic seizures, and more often had normal neurologic exams and brain imaging.
Why it helps: Supports an association between service-connected PTSD, chronic pain, and anxiety and the development of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in veterans, a recognized secondary-nexus pathway.
Epilepsy & Behavior, 2020 · nexus to PTSD, moral injury, combat trauma · PMID 31766005
Finding: In 82 veterans with video-EEG-confirmed psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, 14.6% had identifiable moral injury, and those with moral injury reported higher guilt and depressive symptoms.
Why it helps: Supports a link between combat-related psychological trauma (moral injury, often overlapping PTSD) and nonepileptic seizure disorder in veterans, reinforcing a mental-health secondary nexus.
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, 2022 · nexus to depression, migraine · PMID 34964936
Finding: This review documents a bidirectional relationship between epilepsy and common comorbidities including mood disorders and migraine, noting shared pathogenic mechanisms whereby each condition can affect the course and treatment response of the others.
Why it helps: Supports an association running both directions: depression/migraine can be claimed as secondary to a seizure disorder, and these comorbidities can in turn worsen seizure control.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Seizure Disorder
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Seizure Disorder. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Seizure Disorder as a Secondary Condition
Seizure Disorder is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a Seizure Disorderclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Seizure Disorder should also be looking at:
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Draft your Seizure Disorder personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
Start Your Seizure Disorder VA Claim
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Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Seizure Disorder.
Seizure Disorder Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
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Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.