The Board granted an effective date of November 19, 2021, for the award of service connection for hypertension and granted ratings for various disabilities including a 10 percent rating for hypertension prior to July 5, 2023, and a 40 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is etiologically related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The severity of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and their resulting impairments were considered, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, type II diabetes, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25049234
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 an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others 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.