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
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.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted the restoration of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, effective March 1, 2021. The increased rating for dysthymia was denied.
- Partly granted
The veteran was granted a 50% rating for dysthymia from August 20, 2007, to January 2, 2013, and a 100% rating for major depressive disorder starting January 3, 2013. The claim for TDIU prior to January 3, 2013, was denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and his cause of death (cardiopulmonary arrest due to sepsis due to pneumonia) is not related to any service-connected conditions. The Board denied the claims for DIC, survivor's pension, and accrued benefits.
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