BVA Case 08-0404: Ptsd

393 (1998), the Board determined that medical evidence of a nexus between PTSD and the claimed stressor alone is insufficient to establish that the claimed inservice stressor actually occurred.

In the joint motion for remand,the parties agreed VA failed to consider and apply pertinent caselaw relevant to the appeal in that the 2005 Board finding that the appellant was not credible was made in the first instance without determining whether the appellant had received adequate notice of the need to submit evidence in support of her credibility and whether she would be prejudiced by the Board addressing the issue for the first time in its decision.

The Board found that the appellant was not credible and that the evidence demonstrated she did not undergo personal assault during active duty service.

Accordingly, the Board denied service connection for PTSD.

The Secretary requests that the Court affirm the Board's January 2008 decision because there is a plausible basis in the record to support the denial,the decision is not clearly erroneous,and the Board provided an adequate statement of reasons or bases.

Credibility Determination The appellant argues that the Board clearly erred in determining that she was not credible, and,hence,erred in denying her service connection for PTSD.

The credibility of the appellant is critical in this case, because the majority of evidence presented in the appellant's favor,as to the asserted in-service assaults,is derived solely from her testimony and statements.

5 (1)a current diagnosis of PTSD;(2) credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred ;and (3)medical evidence of a causal nexus between the current symptomatology and the claimed in-service stressor.