Veterans’ Disability Benefits for PTSD

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers disability benefits to veterans and recognizes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying condition for veterans’ benefits. However, the claims process is not easy, which often discourages veterans from pursuing the benefits they need to live a healthier, happier life.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Karl Truman is a veterans’ disability attorney who served 28 years in the United States Army. He has seen firsthand the effects of military service on veterans and the challenges that they face when living with debilitating mental and physical conditions. As an attorney, he has helped many veterans through the application and appeals processes to secure their benefits.

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health condition that is triggered by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Natural disasters, military combat, and assault are some situations that can cause PTSD.

Some degree of anxiety, shock, depression and fear after a traumatic event is to be expected as part of processing the event. It can be difficult to go about your daily life after witnessing extreme violence or destruction. However, if your symptoms persist several weeks after the incident with no improvement, it is possible that you are having the severe stress response known as PTSD. This disorder involves four categories of symptoms that can manifest in different forms:

• Avoidance – Avoidance is a mechanism people use to try to prevent remembering or re-experiencing the traumatic event. For example, if you have PTSD from combat, you might refuse to watch war movies, talk about your experience, or be a part of a crowd.
• Re-experiencing – This symptom refers to a memory of the event triggering overwhelming negative feelings. Essentially, it refers to reliving the event with the same intensity of emotion as you had when it happened. Anything can be a trigger: a sound, a smell, hearing someone talk about it, or something you see.
• Hyperarousal– This symptom includes feelings of sudden anger and a tendency to always be looking for threats. You may be sensitive to loud noises and have difficulty sleeping and concentrating.
• Negative changes in beliefs – Traumatic events cause us to view the world and the people in it differently. You may find it difficult to get close to people or have positive feelings about others.

If you think you may be experiencing the symptoms of PTSD, please schedule an appointment with your doctor. It is a serious mental health disorder and you deserve effective treatment and a support network. The attorneys at our law firm can help you secure VA benefits for PTSD. These benefits are owed to you and will help you live with the expenses, costs, and requirements of the disorder.

How do I get Veterans’ Benefits for PTSD?

The Compensation and Pension Service (C&P) is the division of the VA that will assess your claim. You will need to fill out various forms and complete interviews as part of the veterans’ disability claims process. Some of the documentation you will need to provide includes:

• Service treatment records
• Medical records related to your PTSD
• Discharge papers
• VA Form 21-0781: Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or VA Form 21-0781a: Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Secondary to Personal Assault

It is not always easy to secure the benefits you deserve. It takes time and effort to gather information and do necessary paperwork. Often, claims are denied, and people resign themselves to continue suffering from PTSD instead of appealing.

Mr. Truman understands that the process can be frustrating and overwhelming. He and his staff can help you through the application process and the appeal process if your claim is denied. He will fight for you to have access to the care and treatment you need, so you can focus on taking care of yourself.

Contact us for Help with Veterans’ Disability Benefits

It is our honor to serve veterans and their families in the Jeffersonville, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky areas. Please contact us today at 812-282-8500 for a free consultation to find out how we may be able to help you get the benefits you need.