The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for dysthymic disorder was granted, but the effective date is set at June 9, 2014. The court also denied his request for an earlier effective date.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that prior to June 9, 2014, the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 50 percent due to reduced reliability and productivity but no deficiencies in most areas. From June 9, 2014, his symptoms met the criteria for a 70 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- dysthymic disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19123680
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 dysthymic disorder, anxiety disorder, borderline intellectual functioning, and dyslexia have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an increased rating of 70 percent for dysthymic disorder and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability, effective July 31, 2008.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 1, 1989 or November 1, 2011 for his service-connected dysthymic disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder has been found to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.
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