The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is granted. His coronary artery disease, with hypertension and diabetic nephropathy, is rated at 30 percent effective August 31, 2010. A separate compensable rating for his hypertension is denied. The award of service connection for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is granted, but a separate initial rating prior to December 11, 2012, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity is denied. A compensable initial rating for diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity is also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted service connection on a secondary basis as it resulted from his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- Depressive disorder, Coronary artery disease (status post bypass), Diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, Diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity, Diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity, Diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19121173
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,549 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19121173.
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
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