Rico

[Panther8151]

I am currently diagnosed with Major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, but not currently service connected for them. In 2002 I suffered a head injury on a training exercise and received stitches above my hairline. I was briefly knocked unconscious. I was honorably discharged in 2004. I have been seeing the VA mental health doc for the last three years or so and taking medication for my anxiety and depression. If I file a claim, could I get service connection for the head injury and link it my mental health issues? or possibly PTSD? I have had mental health issues for years. 

[Dustoff1970]

It appears you have strong medical and event evidence of in service/active service head injury and a strong possibility if not certainty that your present diagnosed and treatment for both MH and physical medical issues are directly result of that head trauma.  If you can find a good one at the VA Regional office then contact a DAV, VFW, Legion, or AMVETS VSO to greatly assist you in filing claim and/or appeals to the BVA.  Their services are free to vets.

A doctors' nexus medical IMO opinion linking your disabilities to the in-service event would be very valuable.  You will need a private and/or VA psychist or psychologist doc nexus to link your MH issues to the in-service event (head injury) and file for direct service connection. 

Only a VA shrink or clinical psychologist can make an initial PTSD diagnosis for vets applying for PTSD service connection the first time.

Even with strong medical evidence the VARO will likely deny your claims  by saying "no evidence" which is of course a lie, so prepare for appeal to the BVA where you have better chance of winning you claim/appeal on the very same evidence.  You can send new evidence to the BVA for 90 days after BVA notifies you they have your appeal unless you have asked for a direct BVA appeal. 

Must send BVA a written statement you want the BVA judge to evaluate the new evidence and not send it first back to the VARO that will greatly delay your appeal as the *****VARO raters will still deny your claim.  The VARO raters are full of complicated trickery.  I know this from 30 years of successfully filing my own claims and appeals.

It is well known that physical and head injuries often manifest them  selves in later life with serious side effects such as your situation.  I ought to know from my own experience.  Good luck

My comment is not legal advice as I am not a lawyer, paralegal or VSO.

Edited August 5, 2023 by Dustoff1970