The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia, which is secondary to the veteran's service-connected renal disability. The RO must assign an evaluation for this condition and consider whether a separate evaluation is warranted for post-operative scars associated with the renal disability. Additionally, the RO should obtain VA treatment records from Northport Medical Center and any private care provided by Dr. Waldbaum. The TDIU claim will be remanded to determine if the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.
The deciding factor: The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia as secondary to the veteran's service-connected renal disability, based on medical evidence indicating that the renal condition plays a significant role in the veteran's mental health issues. The RO must now address whether a separate evaluation is warranted for post-operative scars associated with the renal disability and obtain VA treatment records from Northport Medical Center and any private care provided by Dr. Waldbaum.
- Claimed conditions
- dysthymia, renal disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 28, 2004
- Citation
- 0413746
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,421 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0413746.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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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