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.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a personality disorder, and dysthymia but granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, a personality disorder, and dysthymia, to include unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder and stimulant use disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD and Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) claims have been granted. The PTSD rating has been restored to 70 percent effective September 30, 2019.
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