The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a depressive disorder was denied as his psychiatric symptoms did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, and there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD due to lack of intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks. The Veteran's depressive disorder was diagnosed as a subthreshold condition related to stressors from his military service in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 6, 2012
- Citation
- 1212704
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 1212704.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and his depressive disorder was not caused by or related to active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted as his PTSD is now considered service-connected.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left leg disability is reopened, and the appeal is granted.
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