The Board found that the Veteran's service records were likely destroyed due to a fire at the National Personnel Records Center. The medical evidence of record shows no diagnosis or treatment for a psychiatric disability, characterized as depression with insomnia, until 2008, which is more than 54 years after his separation from service. Therefore, the Board concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current psychiatric condition and his military service.
The deciding factor: The absence of medical records documenting treatment for a psychiatric disability during or immediately following the Veteran's active duty makes it difficult to establish a nexus between his current condition and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- depression with insomnia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2013
- Citation
- 1337147
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 1337147.
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 Board granted service connection for depression with insomnia, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and finding that his condition is due to a fall during active service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of August 12, 2022, for the grant of service connection for depression with insomnia.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mood disturbance, depression with insomnia, and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service experiences.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA treatment records and outstanding STRs. The issues of whether the July 1988 rating decision denying service connection for contusion, left hip, right foot disabilities, left foot disabilities, a fungal infection of the feet, and December 1988 rating decision denying service connection for a back disability may be revised on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) are also remanded.
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