The Board has determined that the July 1988 rating decision assigning a 30 percent disability rating for dysthymic disorder was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The appellant's dysthymic disorder is manifested by suicidal ideation, depressed mood, sleep impairment, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, and an inability to establish effective relationships.
The deciding factor: The July 1988 rating decision considered the appellant's service medical records and assigned a disability rating based on his psychiatric symptoms from dysthymic disorder alone, without considering other disabilities such as personality disorders or substance abuse.
- Claimed conditions
- dysthymic disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- June 15, 2001
- Citation
- 0116370
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 0116370.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder, anxiety disorder, borderline intellectual functioning, and dyslexia have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an increased rating of 70 percent for dysthymic disorder and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability, effective July 31, 2008.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 1, 1989 or November 1, 2011 for his service-connected dysthymic disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder has been found to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.
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