The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia, finding that the veteran's symptoms of nervousness and irritability in service are indicative of a current diagnosis of dysthymia. The issue of entitlement to a temporary total rating based upon hospitalization for a service-connected disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding the relationship between the pneumonia during hospitalization and the service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the veteran's dysthymia was incurred in service, supporting the grant of service connection. The issue of entitlement to a temporary total rating based upon hospitalization for a service-connected disability requires additional medical opinion regarding the relationship between the pneumonia and the service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis.
- Claimed conditions
- dysthymia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2004
- Citation
- 0401027
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,177 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0401027.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for dysthymia due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for a new examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent VA examination, and it is recommended that the Veteran undergoes another examination to assess his current psychiatric disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymia, major depressive disorder, and PTSD, as of March 16, 2005. The decision is based on the evidence showing a formal diagnosis during active duty and consistent lay testimony.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, dysthymia, and anxious distress based on the Veteran's in-service combat-related stressors.
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