The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The VA medical records do not support the diagnoses of PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder) as per DSM-5 criteria. The Veteran's reported stressors were considered, but did not meet the current diagnostic criteria for PTSD. There is no evidence that the unspecified depressive disorder is related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Unspecified depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19150360
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
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