To give you insight this is a constant current boost mode driver for LEDs, original design taken from Texas Instruments
here. Chip specifications can be found
here.
The issue: The ground planed etched circuit works without error. It drives my test string of LEDs at 300mA (set by resistor) at around 36V from 24V input. The non-ground planed circuits, there's 4 of them total, all produce a quick and dim 'blinking' of the LEDs without ever keeping them on. I somehow doubt all of my chips could be bad. I have a feeling there's something I must have missed in soldering the circuit or misplacing something, or that it could be the removal of the ground plane.
Any help is greatly appreciated!