The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder with alcohol disorder is granted, and the issues of service connection for macular degeneration (on a new and material basis), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, skin disorder, onychomycosis, residuals of right index finger disability, and GERD are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's depressive disorder with alcohol disorder has been manifested by at least occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.
- Claimed conditions
- Depressive Disorder with Alcohol Disorder, Macular Degeneration (on a new and material basis), Hyperlipidemia, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Asthma, Skin Disorder (tinea cruris, tinea pedis, tinea capitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae), Onychomycosis of the toenails, Residuals of a right index finger disability, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 17, 2017
- Citation
- 1746231
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1746231.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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