The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for dysthymia effective November 7, 1996. The veteran's low back disability is rated at the maximum available benefit of 40 percent. No compensable rating was assigned for fibromyositis.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the veteran's dysthymia warranted a higher evaluation from November 7, 1996 onwards, and his low back disability met the criteria for a maximum evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5292. The fibromyositis did not meet any compensable rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Dysthymia, Degenerative Joint Disease with Spina Bifida of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- July 28, 2003
- Citation
- 0317731
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 0317731.
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 other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted at a 50% rating from July 21, 2011 to August 15, 2020. The Board also granted an effective date of February 9, 2006 for the grant of service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU were denied because he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in October 2023 without providing good cause.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, dysthymia, and unspecified depressive disorder, as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of PTSD or a link between any claimed in-service stressors and the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, TBI, vision issues, and sleep apnea due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The claims for personality disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, and dysthymia were remanded.
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