that the Veteran ' s PTSD stemmed from his service in the military . In March 2012 , the Veteran underwent a C & P examination for PTSD , in which the examiner concluded the Veteran did not suffer from PTSD . In making this finding , the examiner determined the Veteran did not suffer from the following : recurrent distressing thoughts of the event ; recurrent distressing dreams of the event ; an avoidance of activities , places , or people that arouse recollections of the trauma ; or irritability or outbursts of anger . The record , however , directly contradicts those findings . In the October 2002 statement , the Veteran informed the examiner he experienced daily , recurrent thoughts of Vietnam , occasional nightmares