Citation Nr: 18149303 Decision Date: 11/09/18 Archive Date: 11/09/18 DOCKET NO. 15-38 491 DATE: November 9, 2018 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted. FINDING OF FACT The Veteran’s diagnosed PTSD is due to an in-service stressor. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for entitlement to service connection for PTSD have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131 (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303(a), 3.304(f) (2018). REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served honorably on active duty in the U.S. Navy from January 1966 to November 1969. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Portland, Oregon. The Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in October 2018. The transcript from the hearing has not yet been associated with the file, as this appeal is being adjudicated under the One Touch program. The hearing transcript will still be processed and associated with the claims file in the ordinary course of business. Entitlement to service connection for PTSD Service connection may be granted for a disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131 (2012); 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a) (2018). To establish entitlement to service connection for PTSD, a claimant must present (1) evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD; (2) evidence of an in-service stressor, with credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred; and (3) evidence of a causal nexus between the current symptomatology and the in-service stressor. 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f) (2018). The Veteran asserts that in February 1968 when he was aboard the USS Everett F. Larson near Taiwan there was very bad weather with high waves, and that he did not have time to get inside the ship before the waves began break over the bow of the ship. He was thrown backwards and reported hanging on for his life until he was able to jump through a hatch in-between waves. See January 2014 correspondence. First, the Board finds that there is a current disability. See Holton, 557 F.3d at 1366; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d). The Veteran underwent a VA PTSD examination in June 2014, and the examiner diagnosed PTSD according to the DSM-V. Accordingly, the first element of service connection is met. Second, the Board finds that there was an in-service stressor. See Holton, 557 F.3d at 1366; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d). As noted above, the Veteran alleged at least one stressor due to nasty weather while on the USS Larson. VA obtained the command history for the USS Everett F. Larson, and determined that the ship conducted a Western Pacific deployment from January 1, 1968 until April 6, 1968 while the Veteran was aboard. The deck logs did not document any typhoons, rough weather, or injury to the Veteran. VA reviewed a 1968 report by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center that showed there was a tropical depression during the period from February 28 to March 1, but no typhoons until after April 6, 1968 when the USS Everett F. Larson was no longer in the area. The Board finds that an in-service stressor has been verified. First, the Veteran has competently testified to experiencing an in-service stressor in February 1968 when he was caught on deck during severe weather and feared for his life as high waves broke across the ship. VA has determined that there was a tropical depression in February 1968 that coincided with the Veteran’s location and reports of bad weather. The Veteran’s testimony is corroborated by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center report and is thus credible. Thus, there is sufficient evidence of an in-service stressor. Third, the Board finds that the evidence of record supports a finding that the PTSD is related to active service. At the June 2014 VA examination, the examiner opined that the Veteran’s PTSD was related to the verified in-service incident. This examination as provided upon a review of the claims file, an interview of the Veteran, psychological testing, and the examiner provided supporting explanations. The Board thus accords this opinion significant probative value. Based on the foregoing, entitlement to service connection for PTSD is warranted. K. MILLIKAN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD C. Smith, Associate Counsel