The Board grants service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor is credible and that his current diagnosis of PTSD is directly related to his time in service.
The deciding factor: The Board finds the October 2017 private examination more probative than the VA examinations due to greater detail provided regarding the Veteran's symptoms and the rationale behind diagnosing him with PTSD, as well as the depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders mentioned in his VA treatment records. The Veteran reported frequent mortar attacks while at Camp Anaconda, or Ballad Air Force Base, in Iraq, which is consistent with the nature of the Iraq War/Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008 and 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2024
- Citation
- 24003278
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
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