PTSD is an acquired mental condition that is manifested following a psychologically distressing event (or stressor) outside range of usual human experience. PTSD may be come manifest at any time following the stressor.
Characteristic symptoms of PTSD include reexperiencing the event, avoidance of stimuli associated with the event or numbing
of general responsiveness, increased arousal not present before the event, and duration of the disturbance for at least one
month.
Common types of stressors include: serious threats to one's life or physical well-being; serious harm or threats to one's
children, spouse or other close friends and relatives; sudden destruction of one's home or community; and witnessing the
accidental or violent death or injury of another.
In order to establish service connection for PTSD, the evidence must establish that during active duty a veteran was subjected to a stressor or stressors that would cause characteristic symptoms in almost anyone.
Evidence of combat or of having been a prisoner of war may be accepted as conclusive evidence of a stressor incurred during active duty. Evidence of combat includes receipt of the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, or other similar citation.
The medical evidence must establish a clear diagnosis of PTSD and must link the current symptoms to the claimed stressor.