The Board granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder, secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2, and denied an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral eye disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's persistent depressive disorder was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 in a multi-link chain. The Board resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, granting service connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress. However, an earlier effective date and a compensable rating were denied.
- Claimed conditions
- persistent depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2025
- Citation
- A25034629
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and persistent depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's mental health difficulties began during active service.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for tinnitus, persistent depressive disorder as secondary to tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed due to mootness.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities without medication, as well as an opinion on the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for fibromyalgia, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis, and denied a 100 percent rating for persistent depressive disorder. The claims for service connection were remanded.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.