When soldiers come home after they have served, they’re not always in the best of shape—and physical injuries are just the surface of it. Wartime can inflict many traumatic events on soldiers and the psychological damage can be detrimental to their overall well-being. If a veteran suffers from flashbacks and nightmares, while experiencing anger and depression at the same time, he or she may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In fact, nearly 30% of Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD.
Any service veteran who is suffering from a service-related disability, which PTSD surely is, may qualify for medical benefits worth over $3,100. As long as you were discharged honorably and that your condition was caused or made worse by your service, you are eligible for these benefits. The main obstacle stopping you from acquiring them is the claims process. It can be a long and complicated process but experienced veterans’ disability lawyers like those from Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law, are there to help you navigate through the process so you can claim what you rightfully deserve.
The claims process itself is usually done in eight steps. First, you should apply for the claim online (received within an hour of the application) or through the mail (may take a week of processing). Second, the claim will placed under review. The reviewers will determine whether additional evidence is needed and what they would be. Third, evidence will then begin to be gathered. This is done through requests to your doctor and other venues. Fourth, the evidence will be reviewed. This is to ensure that they are legitimate and more than enough.
The fifth through eighth steps are about the decision itself. When the evidence has been reviewed, the final decision will be made, with the appropriate documents being drawn up in preparation. The decision will often be mailed to you and you’ll find out whether your claim has been approved or not. If your claim was disapproved, you can make appeals with the help of your lawyer.
PTSD is a serious condition and you’ll need all the help you can get. File a claim with the guidance of your veterans’ disability lawyer to increase your chances of approval.
(Source: Post Traumatic Stress, The Legal Examiner)
(Source: Post Traumatic Stress, The Legal Examiner)