You do not have to see a counselor to have your condition service connected. If you were treated for anything mental related in service, then just claim "mental condition" when you submit your claim. The VA will request your medical records but mental treatment may not be included, so make sure you specify where you were treated in case further development is required. If any trace of a mental disorder is found within your records, the VA will schedule you for an exam. A copy of this exam and all questions they will ask can be found on the VA's website, labeled as "DBQ" or "Disability Benefits Questionnaire". They will usually ask the examining physician to provide a medical opinion as to whether or not they believe your mental condition is related to service. You can even have a personal psychiatrist/psychologist complete this questionnaire, HOWEVER, they should also specify if the condition is related to your military service. All mental conditions, to include PTSD, have the same symptoms listed on the exams (which is a major part of how your rating % is determined). So, it won't matter if the physician states you have depression, anxiety, or some other condition. By claiming "mental condition" you are preventing the VA from being "black and white" and potentially denying the claim based on lack of a specific diagnosis of depression within your records. Claims with 1 or 2 disabilities only will also be processed faster, in most cases.