Citation Nr: 21003843 Decision Date: 01/25/21 Archive Date: 01/25/21 DOCKET NO. 17-44 255 DATE: January 25, 2021 ORDER Service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted. FINDING OF FACT The Veteran’s PTSD is causally related to his active service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for PTSD are met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.304. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from August 1965 to February 1969. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In February 2017, the Veteran presented testimony before the Decision Review Officer (DRO). In January 2020, the Veteran presented testimony before the Board. In March 2020, the Board remanded this matter for further evidentiary development. Service Connection Service connection for PTSD requires (1) medical evidence diagnosing the condition in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.125(a); (2) a link, established by medical evidence, between current symptoms and an in-service stressor; and (3) credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred. 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f). The Veteran claims that he has an acquired psychiatric disorder that is due to his military service. Specifically, he attributes an acquired psychiatric disorder, in part, to nearly falling off a cliff in service while he was serving in Korea. See Board hearing transcript (January 2020). Pursuant to the March 2020 Board remand, the Veteran underwent VA examination in June 2020. The June 2020 disability benefits questionnaire (DBQ) demonstrates that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to the DSM-5 criteria. See id. §§ 3.304(f), 4.125(a). The VA examiner attributed the Veteran’s PTSD to his reported stressor related to a vehicle accident in Korea. In particular, the June 2020 VA examiner stated, [The] Veteran reported symptoms consistent with PTSD. [The] Veteran did not report symptoms consistent with any other mental health disorder. . . . Although records do not show PTSD diagnosis or treatment until 2012, it is still possible for PTSD to be related to vehicle accident in Korea. Stressor event meets DSM 5 criteria for a traumatic event. Medical research has consistently documented that PTSD symptoms may not develop until years after the traumatic event. The Veteran submitted two letters in November 2020. The first was from a friend of his who entered service with the Veteran. He explained receiving letters from the Veteran including one in which the Veteran described the truck accident in Korea. Similarly, the Veteran’s wife stated that the Veteran would write often when he was in Korea. She stated that he also described the truck accident to her. The Board finds the Veteran’s testimony in this regard to be credible and corroborated by the two letters. Thus, service connection for PTSD is granted. See id. § 3.304. JAMES L. MARCH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board S. Griffith 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.