The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) has been rated at 50 percent prior to September 17, 2015. The Board found the evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether the symptoms and overall impairment caused by the Veteran's service-connected dysthymia more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and treatment notes did not identify 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), memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.
- Claimed conditions
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 26, 2017
- Citation
- 1748102
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 1748102.
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 Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder has been granted a 70 percent rating, effective September 11, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms most closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the hearing being cancelled and a need for additional clarification of his mental health condition. A VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions, including PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 12, 2023 for a rating of 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) with intermittent major depressive episodes and insomnia has been granted. The readjudication of the TDIU prior to January 30, 2025 is pending.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support total occupational and social impairment.
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