The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease, all secondary to diabetes mellitus. A 30 percent initial rating was granted for stasis dermatitis.

The deciding factor: The evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, and other conditions were related to his active duty service, leading to a grant of service connection in favor of the Veteran. The Board also granted an initial 30 percent rating for stasis dermatitis based on the severity of symptoms.

Claimed conditions

depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, stasis dermatitis, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease (secondary to diabetes), bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy (secondary to diabetes), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (secondary to diabetes)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

30%

Decision date

December 9, 2025

Citation

A25105946

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