QR Results: Veteran Awarded Service Connection for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by Board of Veterans Appeals

QR is pleased to announce that our appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals for an Army veteran with service in Vietnam resulted in a reversal of the initial Ratings Determination by the Department of Veterans Affairs - Pittsburgh Regional Office, and, a full grant of service connection for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

The veteran applied on his own and was originally denied by the Pittsburgh Regional Office.  Attorney Quatrini appealed the unfavorable decision and worked with the Veteran's private psychiatrist to challenge the opinion of the VA examiner, who opined that the Veteran did not suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Mr. Quatrini attended a video teleconference with the Veteran in Pittsburgh, PA and was able to convince the Veterans Law Judge to accept the following facts:  

1. the veteran engaged in combat during his service;
2. that the Veteran had a qualifying DSM-IV diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from his private psychiatrist, and;
3. that the Veteran's claimed stressors were more likely than not related to his combat service.

Further, the Veterans Law Judge also accepted Mr. Quatrini's argument that a grant of service connection was proper for two reasons:  First, the opinion of the private psychiatrist was simply more credible, and; (2) the two medical opinions - one from the VA and one from the private psychiatrist - were in "relative equipoise", meaning that the two opinions essentially tied and compelled a victory for the Veteran.

The BVA decision will now head back to the Pittsburgh Regional Office for further adjudication, including an updated evaluation and Rating for the Veteran's PTSD.

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QR Veterans Disability Law Group

Serving Veterans nationwide from our offices in Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and Latrobe.

Taking Every Opportunity to Learn...

Attending the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (N.O.S.S.C.R.) annual conference in Washington, D.C....great session on TBI and PTSD

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- Veterans Disability Law Group at Quatrini Rafferty

Serving veterans in Pennsylvania, and the surrounding states, from our offices in Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and Latrobe

QR Gets Vietnam Vet Service-Connected for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Our client from Westmoreland County applied for, and was denied, service-connection for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  He had a previous unfavorable decision.  

The Army veteran served a year-long tour in Vietnam.

QR helped the client appeal his Ratings Determination to the Regional Office in Pittsburgh.  A hearing was held with a Decision Review Officer and which point testimony was taken from the veteran regarding his experiences and his treatment.

Working with the client's treating psychiatrist, QR was able to attack the thoroughness and credibility of the examinations performed by the Veterans Administration.  

Following the hearing, a favorable Statement of the Case was issued granting full service-connection.  The veteran was awarded an ongoing disability percentage, and, retroactive benefits back to the day of his application.
 

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