The Board has denied the claim for an increased rating for HIV, finding that there is no evidence of refractory constitutional symptoms with pathological weight loss or AIDS-related opportunistic infection and neoplasm. The claim for dysthymic disorder remains pending as it was not evaluated under the old criteria.
The deciding factor: The appellant's HIV does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on refractory constitutional symptoms, diarrhea, and pathological weight loss.
- Claimed conditions
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Dysthymic Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2001
- Citation
- 0101019
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0101019.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for HIV, secondary to his PTSD with anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, was granted. Additionally, an increased rating of 100 percent for PTSD was granted from February 17, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder due to military sexual trauma, and human immunodeficiency virus as there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors that need correction.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymic disorder, adjustment disorder with anxiety, general anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, effective December 12, 2024.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for lichen sclerosis of the penis and denied an effective date prior to September 22, 2021, for the award of service connection for HIV as well as an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for HIV.
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