The Veteran's service connection for dysthymic disorder was granted, and he is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral nasal pinquecula may be proximately due to his service-connected dry eyes. His dysthymic disorder has been evaluated as 30 percent disabling since service connection was established. The residuals of his inguinal hernia repair are not compensable under VA rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral nasal pinquecula may be proximately due to his service-connected dry eyes, and thus granted service connection for this condition. For dysthymic disorder, the Board noted that while it causes occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, these symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene), disorientation to time or place, memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral nasal pinquecula, Dysthymic disorder (depression)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- September 7, 2012
- Citation
- 1230753
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 1230753.
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 has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, as well as a dysthymic disorder (depression). The veteran's current ratings will be addressed in the REMAND section.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.