Citation Nr: 25005295 Decision Date: 04/18/25 Archive Date: 04/18/25 DOCKET NO. 17-30 184 DATE: April 18, 2025 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. FINDING OF FACT Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, his diagnosed as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to be etiologically related to his active duty service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.304, 3.384, 4.125. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from November 1963 to January 1967. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2016 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In July 2019, the Veteran and his daughter testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned. A copy of the transcript of that hearing has been associated with the claims file. By way of background, this matter was initially before the Board in November 2019. At that time, the Board reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, and remanded the matter for additional development. See November 2019 BVA Decision. The Board next remanded the Veteran's service connection claim in September 2020 and March 2021. See September 2020 BVA Decision; March 2021 BVA Decision. Thereafter, in a September 2021 decision, the Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, and the Veteran subsequently appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). See September 2021 BVA Decision. In June 2022, the Court granted the parties' Joint Motion for Remand (JMR), which vacated the September 2021 Board decision and remanded the matter for readjudication consistent with the motion. Specifically, the Court found that the Board failed to ensure VA satisfied its duty to assist to provide an adequate VA examination for the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder. See June 2022 CAVC Decision. This matter was last before the Board in October 2022, March 2023, September 2023, February 2024, June 2024, and December 2024, when it was remanded for additional development. See October 2022 BVA Decision; March 2023 BVA Decision; September 2023 BVA Decision; February 2024 BVA Decision; June 2024 BVA Decision; December 2024 BVA Decision. Service Connection Service connection may be granted for disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service. 38 U.S.C. § 1110; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303. Establishing service connection generally requires evidence of (1) a current disability; (2) in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and the present disability. Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163 (Fed. Cir. 2004); 38 C.F.R. § 3.303. There are particular requirements for establishing service connection for PTSD which must be met independently of the general requirements for service connection. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f); Arzio v. Shinseki, 602 F.3d 1343, 1347 (Fed. Cir. 2010). Service connection for PTSD requires medical evidence diagnosing the condition in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.125(a), that is, a diagnosis that conforms to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5); 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); see also 38 C.F.R. § 3.384. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board notes that there are conflicting medical opinions of record as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active duty service. The Board will resolve reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and grant service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. 38 U.S.C. § 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.102. S. HENEKS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board K. Justis, Counsel 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.