The Veteran's dysthymic disorder is granted a 50 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision. Ratings for peripheral neuropathy right and left lower extremities remain denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran’s dysthymic disorder more closely approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity than other levels of disability.
- Claimed conditions
- dysthymic disorder (depression), peripheral neuropathy right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- February 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21009315
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 21009315.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and remands the claims for further development, including obtaining private medical records and researching whether the Veteran's service on USS NEOSHO exposed him to herbicides.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure at Fort McClellan, including toxic exposures. The Board will consider all evidence and determine if there is a nexus between the claimed conditions and these exposures.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities, hypothyroidism, and dermatitis (claimed as chloracne) based on the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the awards of service connection for peripheral neuropathy in all extremities but denied an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus and a higher rating for diabetes.
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