The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder and cognitive impairment from May 1, 2017 to December 10, 2019; denied a rating in excess of 70 percent from December 11, 2019 to February 6, 2023. The Board granted ratings of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy from May 1, 2017 to February 6, 2023; denied a rating in excess of 20 percent on and after February 7, 2023. The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension effective August 10, 2022.

The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of symptoms exhibited during the relevant periods as compared to the criteria set forth in the General Formula for Mental Disorders and the Rating Schedule for Peripheral Neuropathy.

Claimed conditions

major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder and cognitive impairment, right lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, Type II diabetes mellitus

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 24, 2025

Citation

A25101835

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