The Board granted service connection for hypertension and denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder, while remanding claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a headache disability (secondary to major depressive disorder, hypertension or diabetes), and a disability manifested by urinary frequency as secondary to hypertension or diabetes.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed within the one-year presumptive period after separation from service. The severity of his major depressive disorder did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

Claimed conditions

hypertension, major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, headache disability (secondary to major depressive disorder, hypertension or diabetes), urinary frequency (secondary to hypertension or diabetes)

How they argued it

Presumptive (no nexus needed)

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

50%

Decision date

October 29, 2025

Citation

A25093877

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine