Citation Nr: 18146863
Decision Date: 11/01/18	Archive Date: 11/01/18

DOCKET NO. 13-31 167
DATE:	November 1, 2018
ORDER
Service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted.
FINDING OF FACT
In July 2018, a VA psychologist diagnosed the Veteran with PTSD as a result of his combat service in Vietnam.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
The criteria for service connection for PTSD have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107 (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.304 (2018).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
The Veteran had honorable active duty service from March 1968 to December 1969, including service in Vietnam. His awards include a Purple Heart and a Combat Infantryman Badge, both of which denote his participation in combat. 


This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal     from a November 2012 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO), which denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. 
The Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in August 2015. A transcript is of record. The claim was remanded in October 2014.
The Board issued a decision that denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, in August 2017. The Veteran appealed the Board's decision to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). In a May 2018 Joint Motion, the parties requested that the Court vacate the August 2017 Board decision that denied service connection for a psychiatric disability,      to include PTSD. In a May 2018 Order, the Court granted the Joint Motion.
Service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD
Service connection for PTSD requires a medical diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.125(a); a link, established by medical evidence, between current symptoms and an in-service stressor; and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred. 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f).
The record contains written statements from the Veteran detailing several stressful incidents that occurred while serving in combat in Vietnam. Service personnel records confirm that the Veteran served in Vietnam and received several combat medals, including a Purple Heart and a Combat Infantryman Badge. Accordingly, the Veteran’s in-service stressors are conceded. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(2).
In July 2018, a VA psychologist diagnosed the Veteran with PTSD as a result of his combat service in Vietnam. There is no indication from review of the post-service medical evidence that any other psychiatric disorder has been diagnosed. 
Since this diagnosis meets the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.304(f) and 4.125, service connection for PTSD is granted.  

 
K. A. BANFIELD
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	D. Van Wambeke, Counsel