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Okay, I think I will send a recosideration request to my VARO. Thank you all for your help and guidance!!!!!

@71M10 I may have confused everyone, sorry for that. In my decision letter, the VA addresses both the claims that my DAV rep. submitted for PTSD and depression. The claims for PTSD and depression were denied. I was just checking the decision letter and the denial for depression stated that, for one, there was not a diagnoses of depression that,"is at least as likely as not related to military service". This is why I am confused because the Psychologist, in her addendum, stated that it was at least as likely as not related to military service and in the decision letter they stated that there was no diagnoses for depression that is at least as likely related to military service. I believe (although I could be wrong) that they never saw the addendum. So, I should just address a letter to my VARO and show them the notes, (addendum), that the Psychologist made and ask for reconsideration? To answer your question about why the addendum--I don't know exactly why it was done. I can read in the VA notes from the myhealthevet website that it was a C&P follow up and under Addendum requested is where the Psychologist states that it is at least as likely as not related to military servise. See below. I tried to type it exactly as the Psychologist typed it. This is what it says: =============================================================== Date/Time: 17 Sep 2013 @ 1415 Note Title: C&P follow up Location: My VA hospital Signed by: The Psychologist who interviewed me co-signed by: The same Psychologist Date/Time signed: 17 Sep 2013 @ 1415 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Local title: c&P Follow up Standard title: c & P EXAMINATION NOTE DATE OF NOTE: SEP 17, 2013@14:15:25 ENTRY DATE: SEP 17, 2013@14:15:25 AUTHOR: SAME PSYCH. AS ABOVE EXP COSIGNER: (BLANK) URGENCY: (BLANK) STATUS: COMPLETED COMPENSATION AND PENSION EXAMINATION REPORT (FREE TEXT) ================================================================= ADDENDUM REQUESTED: This examiner reviewed c-file and examination report of 7/23/13. Veteran has no pre nor military history of mental health treatment or complaints, worked successfully in federal position, but has struggled socially historically since military experience. Veteran's MDD is at least as likely as not related to military service. Veteran claims PTSD. Veterans presentation of sxs meet criteria with MDD. Veteran has a history of mental health treatment of depression, multiple failed marriages and poor relationships with adult children. Veterans occupational history has been fairly stable. /es/ Psychologist who interviewed me Psychologist Signed: 09/17/2013 14:15 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, how does this sound? I send this to the VA regional office--right? Attention: LSR, Apparently there has been a clear and unmistakable error that was made by the VA when they recently denied a claim for what I thought was PTSD. The VA examiner noted that the symptoms I have been experiencing were clearly attributable to MDD and not PTSD and that, as the VA Psychologist noted that it is at least as likely as not related to my military service. The VA Psychologist noted this in a, “requested addendum”, to her initial exam. This note, by the Psychologist, is dated 9/17/2013. There is no cause for the VA to deny my claim for depression when the VA Psychologist attributed it to my military service. This is quite clear in her addendum dated 9/17/2013. I also would like the claim amended to reflect MDD instead of just depression. Thank you for your immediate attention concerning this matter. Sincerely,

In the initial exam the Dr. stated that there was no diagnoses of PTSD, then she says veteran has another Axis I and/or II diagnoses. The diagnoses she gives is MDD, chronic, severe and indicates Axis category I, Axis III says see medical records. Axis IV Psychological an Environmental problems...family relationship problems, multiple marriages, social withdrawal, marital discord. GAF 56. All in all she says the stressor I experienced does not meet criteria for PTSD, but it is related to veterans fear of hostile military or terroist activity. She goes on to say that I was not exposed to a traumatic event. In the next criteria, she says that the traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in the following ways: distressing dreams of the event, intense psych. distress at exposure to external and internal cues thst symbolize or resmeble an aspect of the event. In criterian C she says many things about emotions: feeling detached, diminished interest, lack of ability to show emotions (loving feelings). Criterian D: difficulty falling and staying asleep, irritability and outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, and exaggerated startle response. Then in Criterion E, she says that veteran does not meet full criteria for PTSD. For VA rating purposes she says that I have : depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciosness, chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in maintaining and establishing effective work and social relationships, and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances. Then, in her remarks from the initial exam she states, "veteran claims PTSD. Veterans presentation of sxs ( I guess that is symptoms) meet criteria with MDD......veteran has history for treatment of depression, multiple failed marriages...... At the end of her initial exam she says, "no medical opinion requested". I am not sure what no medical opinion requested means. This was the initial exam and was conducted on 7/23/2013. On 9/17/2013, she makes a "requested addendum" where she states, " This examiner reviewed c-file and examination report of 7/23/2013. Veteran has no pre nor military history of mental health treatment or complaints, worked successfully in a fedreal position, but has struggled socially historically since military experience. Veterans MDD is at least as likely as not related to military service. Veteran claims PTSD. Veterans presentation of sxs(symptoms) meet criteria with MDD. Veteran has a history of mental health treatment of depression, multiple failed marriages and poor relationships with adult children. Veterans occupational history has been fairly stable. I originally filed a claim for depression in 2004--that was denied because, quite frankly, I really did not know the process of filing claims and was lazy in submitting paperwork. I filed again last October and had my exam this past July. The reason the VA states the claim is denied this time is because the evidence does not show the condition was incurred in or aggravated by military service. I am confused because the Dr says that it is, at least as likely as not related to military service. I would like to know if I have a good reason to appeal, or should I do anything. Thanks for any advice.

On my VA notes from myhealthevet the Psychologist ammended her conclusions about a month after my C&P exam for PTSD. She noted that I had MDD and that my GAF score was 56. She also stated that my MDD was at least as likely as not contributable to military service. However I was denied the award for compensation and rating. I need some advise on wether or not I have an appeal. I am just confused because of what the doctor noted and the outcome of being denied. I did also have a seperate claim for depression. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks!