VA announces new treatment weapon against epilepsy
The VA has begun offering a new treatment option for veterans with drug-resistant epilepsy at select medical centers, starting with the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston. The NeuroOne electrode system, recently approved by the FDA, combines diagnosis and treatment in a single procedure that can be performed without general anesthesia or an operating room. This technology represents a significant shift for veterans who have exhausted medication options and face debilitating seizures that prevent them from working, driving, or living independently.
Approximately one-third of epilepsy patients continue to experience seizures despite medication, a condition known as drug-resistant epilepsy. For these patients, traditional treatment has required lengthy, invasive diagnostic procedures followed by separate surgical interventions to identify and treat the areas of the brain causing seizures. The medications themselves often carry severe side effects that impact sleep, mood, and cognitive function, creating a cycle where the treatment can be nearly as debilitating as the condition itself. Veterans with service-connected epilepsy have historically faced this same frustrating path through multiple medications and procedures with limited success.
The first veteran to receive this treatment at the Houston facility was Derrick Harpole, a 50-year-old Navy veteran from Vicksburg, Mississippi, who has lived with uncontrolled epilepsy for 28 years. His seizures began while he was serving in the Navy painting aircraft carriers and eventually forced him to stop working over 20 years ago. The procedure took place during the week of August 3, 2026, and was performed by Dr. Garrett Banks, a neurosurgeon at the facility, with care coordination from Dr. Hina Dave, one of five epilepsy specialists at the MEDVAMC Epilepsy Center of Excellence.
The NeuroOne system uses thin, wire-like electrodes with precise metal contact points that can record electrical activity in the brain, stimulate brain tissue, and ablate targeted tissue all in one procedure. The system allows doctors to create a precise burn in the area of the brain causing seizures while monitoring local brain temperature for safety. Because the procedure can be performed in the epilepsy monitoring unit rather than an operating room, patients can continue to be monitored immediately afterward to assess the effectiveness of the treatment. This consolidated approach means fewer hospital stays, reduced surgical risk, and a clearer picture of whether additional interventions are needed.
For disabled veterans struggling with epilepsy, this development matters because it addresses a condition that often creates cascading disability issues. Veterans unable to control seizures through medication frequently lose their ability to maintain employment, drive, or perform basic daily activities safely, which can affect disability rating evaluations and quality of life assessments. The availability of this technology at VA facilities means veterans can access cutting-edge treatment within the VA healthcare system rather than seeking outside care or going without advanced options entirely.
Veterans currently receiving treatment for epilepsy through VA healthcare should discuss this option with their neurology care team, particularly if they have continued to experience seizures despite trying multiple medications. Those enrolled at facilities other than the Houston MEDVAMC should ask whether their local VA medical center offers the NeuroOne system or can provide a referral to a facility that does. Veterans not currently enrolled in VA healthcare but who developed epilepsy during or after service should consider applying for VA healthcare enrollment and exploring service connection for their condition, as epilepsy can qualify for disability compensation depending on the frequency and severity of seizures.