If you have developed post-traumatic stress disorder due to your service in the military, financial support could be available to you in the form of veteran’s disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
PTSD is an intense psychological disorder that can affect your ability to hold a job, maintain relationships, and complete everyday tasks. According to VA estimates:
- As many as 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom suffer from PTSD.
- 12 percent who served in the Gulf War have PTSD.
- 30 percent of veterans who served in the Vietnam War live with PTSD.
In addition, sexual assault is a major cause of PTSD, and 23 percent of women in the military report being sexually assaulted at some point in their careers.
The best way to ensure you get the maximum amount of compensation you need to cope with your PTSD is to work with a VA disability lawyer. George Sink, a disabled veteran himself, has dedicated his law practice to helping his fellow veterans across the country. To learn more about how he can help you, schedule a free case review by calling us or filling out an online contact form now.
Identifying PTSD in Veterans
PTSD frequently develops after experiencing a deeply terrifying event, such as suffering a war injury, witnessing violent death in an active war zone, or being sexually assaulted. It can manifest in a variety of ways, but some of the most common symptoms include:
- Constantly thinking about the event (including in nightmares)
- Repressing the event and refusing to talk about it with anyone
- Intentionally avoiding situations that might remind you of the event
- Always being on high alert for danger
- Feeling depressed, detached, or numb from day-to-day life
If these symptoms seem familiar, speak to a mental health professional right away, and then contact a lawyer for help getting VA disability compensation.
Tips on How to Increase Your Disability Rating for PTSD
The VA will give your PTSD a disability rating between 0 and 100 percent to determine how much compensation you can receive. If you receive a 100 percent rating, you can receive up to $3,350.87 a month as of 2018.
There are a number of ways you could increase your disability rating:
- Include all your mental and physical impairments on your application — Having PTSD in combination with other mental health disorders could increase your chance of receiving a 100 percent rating.
- Get statements from people you served with — Witnesses to the traumatic event that caused your PTSD are helpful for your case.
- Provide statements from friends and family — The people who know you best can detail how your behavior has changed since you experienced the traumatic event.
- Obtain statements from a psychologist — A mental health professional can use their knowledge and skills to verify the extent of your PTSD.
- Hire a lawyer — An attorney can help ensure your forms are completed correctly, send them to the right places within deadlines, and gather all the necessary evidence. They can also help if your claim is denied or if you think your PTSD has been given too low of a rating.
By following these steps, you increase your chances of receiving a high rating for your PTSD and getting the maximum benefits you deserve under the law.
What to Do If Your PTSD Claim Was Denied
If your PTSD claim was denied, you should immediately get help from a VA lawyer if you have not already done so. You can file an appeal, but you do not want to do so without assistance, as veterans without lawyers are twice as likely to have their appeals denied.
A lawyer will work to identify the reason for the low rating or denial. The rules on VA disability benefits are extremely complex, so trying to navigate them on your own can be difficult. Lawyers who focus on VA claims understand the complexities and will know exactly what to do with your case. With a lawyer’s help, you can file a strong appeal with a much greater likelihood of success.
Contact Us Now for Help Maximizing Your VA Benefits for PTSD
If you developed PTSD due to experiencing a traumatic event while serving in the United States Armed Forces, George Sink wants to help you. As a disabled veteran and a VA lawyer, he understands the process and is passionate about helping his fellow servicemen and servicewomen seek the compensation they deserve.
To learn more about what his firm can do for you, call us or contact us online now to schedule a free consultation.
