The Veteran's dysthymia is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate given her symptoms of anxiety, depressed mood, some difficulty in stressful circumstances, avoidance of certain settings, and an exaggerated startle response. The disability does not more nearly approximate a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's dysthymia causes occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks but does not cause reduced reliability and productivity as required for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 19, 2020
- Citation
- A20017212
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 A20017212.
What this means for you
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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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