The Board granted service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease. A 70 percent rating was also granted for depressive disorder with anxious distress from February 10, 2023.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension, heart disability, COPD, and chronic kidney disease were all found to have originated during active service based on the totality of the circumstances. The depressive disorder with anxious distress was also granted due to its severity as of February 10, 2023.

Claimed conditions

hypertension, heart disability, to include myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and implanted cardiac pacemaker, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

70%

Decision date

October 8, 2025

Citation

A25087020

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