Citation Nr: 21027880 Decision Date: 05/07/21 Archive Date: 05/07/21 DOCKET NO. 15-01 677 DATE: May 7, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is denied. FINDING OF FACT 1. A psychiatric disorder was not manifest during service. 2. An acquired psychiatric disability is not attributable to service. CONCLUSION OF LAW An acquired psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1131, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from January 1988 to April 1988. This case was previously before the Board in February 2019, at which time it was remanded for further development. The directives having been substantially complied with, the matter again is before the Board. D'Aries v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 97, 105 (2008); Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268, 271 (1998). 1. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. To establish service connection a Veteran must generally show: "(1) the existence of a present disability; (2) in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) a causal relationship between the present disability and the disease or injury incurred or aggravated during service." Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163, 1167 (Fed. Cir. 2004). Service connection may also be granted for any disease diagnosed after discharge, when all the evidence, including that pertinent to service, establishes that the disease was incurred in service. 38 C.F.R. § 3.303 (d). The issue for the Board is whether the Veteran has a current disability that began during service or is at least as likely as not related to service. The Board concludes that, while the Veteran has received treatment for depression and alcohol abuse, the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that it began during active service or is otherwise related to service. Service treatment records do not contain complaint or treatment for any psychiatric symptoms. The Veteran was discharged just three months into his service for "entry level performance and conduct." There is no indication of depression. In an April 2012 treatment record, the Veteran reported that he was "kicked out" of the Navy for failing to disclose a past injury. He stated that his depression and alcohol abuse began as a teenager. The Veteran failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination in July 2013. Subsequent attempts to contact the Veteran have been fruitless, including through his representative. There is no evidence, either in the service treatment records or from the Veteran's statements, of manifestations in service or any link between his current disability and his service. The duty to assist is not a one way street or a blind alley. There is nothing credible in the record that would establish a relationship between a current disability and service. His remote assertion that depression and alcohol abuse started as a teenager falls far short of establishing a recognized diagnosis (disease) prior to service, during service or in proximity to service. We also note that the private medical evidence includes a notation of PTSD. However, nothing establishes an in-service stressor and nothing links the unsupported diagnosis to service. Furthermore, the hospital summaries contained in the record note major depression as the disability rather than PTSD. For the foregoing reasons, the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim. The benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine does not apply, and the claim must be denied. 38 U.S.C. § 5107 (b); 38 C.F.R. § 3.102; Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49 (1990). H. N. SCHWARTZ Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Creegan The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.