The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, is granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted at the 20 percent rating level. The appeals for peripheral neuropathy are remanded.
The deciding factor: The decision to grant service connection and the rating assigned were based on new evidence received since the previous denial that established a causal relationship between the Veteran's military stressors and his anxiety disorder, as well as the current medical findings supporting diabetes mellitus and its complications. The peripheral neuropathy appeals are remanded due to conflicting diagnostic records.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety Disorder, Diabetes Mellitus, Peripheral Neuropathy (Upper Extremities), Peripheral Neuropathy (Lower Extremities)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18145617
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 18145617.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2024 rating decision because the March 2024 rating decision was an initial decision granting service connection for anxiety disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's appeal was granted for various disabilities, including service connection for depressive disorder and increased evaluations for diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting multiple nerve groups. A SMC based on need for aid and attendance was also awarded.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and service connection for IBS as secondary to anxiety disorder is granted. Service connection for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is denied due to lack of presumptive basis. Service connection for CHF with bradycardia and pacemaker as secondary to hypertension is granted.
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