Citation Nr: 18140943
Decision Date: 10/09/18	Archive Date: 10/09/18

DOCKET NO. 15-26 242
DATE:	October 9, 2018
ORDER
Entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder is granted.
FINDING OF FACT
The Veteran’s major depressive disorder was incurred in and is related to his military service.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
The criteria for entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1131, 5107(b) (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.304 (2017).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
The Veteran served on active duty from December 1976 to October 1979 and October 1980 to October 1981. 
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2014 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 
In September 2018, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge.
Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychological disorder.
The Veteran was diagnosed with major depressive disorder using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), criteria. See August 2017 VA treatment records. He testified that during service he helped a female servicemember with rape charges against a supervisor; in retaliation, he was socially isolated by others and threatened with a less than honorable discharge from service. As a result, he attempted suicide. See September 2018 Board hearing; July 2015 statement. His service treatment records (STRs) corroborate his suicide attempt and that his work performance declined in temporal relation to his interactions with the female servicemember. See July 1981 and August 1981 STRs. While he was initially diagnosed with a personality disorder, he was later diagnosed with depression during service. See July 1981 and September 1981 STRs. A VA physician opined that the Veteran had recurring episodes of depression, starting in service. See February 2009 VA treatment records. Thus, the preponderance of the evidence reflects that the Veteran’s depression was incurred in and is related to his military service, and service connection is warranted.
 
E. I. VELEZ
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. Sandler, Associate Counsel