The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) is granted. Service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus are denied, as the evidence does not show a current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has been diagnosed with a depressive disorder that is presumed to be due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and bilateral peripheral neuropathy. Service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied as there is no evidence of such condition during the pendency of the appeal, despite presumptive exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The rating claim for diabetes mellitus remains pending.
- Claimed conditions
- Depressive Disorder, Ischemic Heart Disease, Left Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Right Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Left Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19177555
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.
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- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial increased rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability from March 8, 2010, to May 19, 2014, and denied a higher rating thereafter.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder of generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability. Service connection was also granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae, and a 20 percent rating was assigned for left ankle achilles tendonitis from October 23, 2023.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include GAD and depressive disorder, as well as a cervical spine disability, right wrist pain, and left wrist pain. However, the claims for lumbar spine pain were denied.
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