Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are common conditions among many veterans, particularly those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. What exactly are these conditions, and what kind of treatment is available to veterans?
PTSD is a mental health condition that is the result of an experience that caused a great deal of trauma. It can cause the patient to continually relive the traumatic events, and it can be a debilitating condition that interferes with the patient’s ability to perform daily activities.
TBI is a type of physical brain damage. It is typically caused by a severe impact to the head or the sudden whipping around of the head or neck, as is the case with whiplash. It can lead to cognitive and emotional challenges that also may impact the patient’s daily life.
In terms of treatment, finding doctors and therapists who are well versed in these conditions is critical. Various forms of therapy and approaches to treatment are believed to be effective, and you can read more information from Veterans Affairs here.
Many doctors and scientists believe there is a link between the two. New research is beginning to suggest that trauma to the head, which can cause TBI, may also make patients more susceptible to developing PTSD.
This connection is imperative in terms of filing a claim to receive veterans’ disability benefits. Because PTSD is a mental health condition, it is more difficult to prove that the underlying cause is service-connected. However, because TBI is physical, demonstrating its service connection is more straightforward. And a veteran’s PTSD may subsequently be considered to be linked to the TBI.
If you suffer from PTSD or TBI and would like more information on filing a disability claim, please feel free to give us a call anytime at 1-877-526-3457. One of our representatives will be happy to answer your questions. Or if you’d prefer to contact us online, please fill out this form.
