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
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 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.
- 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's claim for service connection for a renal disability was denied. The veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy from September 16, 2016, to November 1, 2016, was granted.
- 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.
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