The claim was deferred as non combat ptsd and then sent back to development for combat ptsd. I never claimed a combat stressor so feeling out 0781 was not necessary. On my original 21-526 I claimed major depression but the VA examiner changed the diagnosis to PTSD. My concern is the legality behind changing a claim without first talking to the claimant. I forwarded all evidence and examinations(VA and Navy) to a friend of mine at VARO Buffalo who is an Appeals Decision Review Officer and she stated the claim should have never been deferred. According to her the with the diagnosis of PTSD by a VA examiner with nexus, evidence that I was in Africa doing humanitarian missions, and military job consistent with the claimed stressor the claim should have been granted. And if there was still doubt it would be a case of relative equipoise and favor going to the Veteran.