Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to their military service often struggle to get benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). PTSD is a well-recognized mental health condition, but it can be challenging to prove that a Veteran has PTSD and that it is service-connected.
PTSD usually develops from exposure to a traumatic event like combat, military sexual trauma, or exposure to life-threatening situations during service. However, proving the nexus can be a challenging task. The team at Fight4Vets can help with Veterans’ PTSD claims in Logan, WV.
Everyone feels anxious, stressed, or depressed sometimes. However, PTSD is more than that—it is a chronic mental health condition that affects nearly every part of a Veteran’s life. Those suffering from PTSD often report experiencing the same heightened sensations and reactions that are a natural response to trauma, but in non-traumatic scenarios. This is why PTSD often impacts sleep, work, relationships, and overall well-being. Symptoms of PTSD often include:
Veterans may not realize they are suffering from PTSD until years after discharge. After all, anxiety in a combat situation is normal, and Veterans expect a transition into civilian life. Unfortunately, this delay can complicate the PTSD claims process in Logan, especially if the Veteran’s medical documentation from their time of service is limited or unavailable.
To receive VA disability benefits, Veterans must establish a service connection in their PTSD claim. This typically requires three elements:
Proving a nexus requires including a medical opinion stating it is “at least as likely as not” that the PTSD resulted from the Veteran’s time in service.
Some Veterans in Logan can trace their PTSD to a well-documented event, while others must support their claims through other forms of evidence. In many cases, a Lay Statement—a written account from the Veteran, a fellow service member, or a family member—can be used to describe the stressor and its impact.
These statements are beneficial when the traumatic event was never formally reported, such as in cases of military sexual trauma or incidents that occurred in remote deployments. Other helpful evidence includes:
The more detailed and consistent the evidence is, the stronger the PTSD claim will be.
The VA routinely denies the first PTSD claim made by a Veteran. While this is incredibly frustrating, it is also expected. Veterans have three appeal options: Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Review, and Board Appeals. Each choice comes with different procedures and timelines. If a Veteran’s PTSD claim is denied, working with a VA-accredited attorney can ensure that the correct path is taken and that the appeal is handled correctly from the outset.
If you are living with service-connected PTSD, you do not have to go through the VA claims process alone. Fight4Vets’ VA-accredited attorneys can help you gather the evidence needed to prove your claim, then file correctly, and appeal if necessary.
Attorneys cannot guarantee faster results, but they can make the process more accurate and give Veterans a stronger chance at approval. Initial consultations are free, so there is no risk in speaking to someone about your case. Contact Fight4Vets today about Veterans’ PTSD claims in Logan.
