PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, can cause significant physical and mental issues for Veterans. In many cases, it can impact their daily lives, changing their interactions with loved ones and influencing their ability to hold a job. Unfortunately, many of the conditions that occur over the course of military service can increase the risk of developing PTSD.
It is important to understand the causes of PTSD for Veterans to establish a service-connection, and our experienced VA-accredited attorneys can provide unrivaled advice on how to use this as part of your application for benefits from the VA.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that comes from witnessing or experiencing some type of traumatic event. Veterans with PTSD may suffer from flashbacks, increased anxiety in certain situations, and difficulty confronting triggers that remind them of the trauma. In addition, PTSD can cause intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and hyperarousal. Experiencing those symptoms can cause the Veteran to withdraw from interactions with friends and family.
Military service can lead to a number of traumatic events that have the potential to cause symptoms of PTSD. The following are the primary causes that we often see.
Combat exposure significantly increases the odds that a Veteran will develop PTSD. During combat, service members face extreme risk to themselves and others around them. Many Veterans feel personally responsible for events that occurred during or as a result of combat scenarios, even scenarios that he or she had no control over.
Many situations, including scenarios that do not involve active combat, increase the risk that a service member will face a threat to their lives. In some cases, simply serving as an active military base or on a military vessel can put a service member in fear for their life. Service members can also face threats during non-combat operations, from search and rescue missions to managing emergencies on base.
Even service members who do not directly face death or threat of death themselves can end up watching someone else deal with devastating injury, trauma, or death. Witnessing a traumatic event can produce a trauma response in those service members, especially if he or she felt helpless or needed to react to the event in any way.
15.7% of service members, and more than 38% of female service members, report suffering sexual trauma while in the military. Sexual trauma, including extreme harassment, can lead to ongoing post-traumatic stress responses in many service members.
Engaging in highly emotional activities, including events that drag on over time, can take a severe toll on many service members. Service members can end up digging graves, recovering bodies, or dealing with the aftermath of trauma, even in cases where he or she was not on scene for the event. Those ongoing tragedies can carry a high emotional cost, leading to PTSD in the future. Repeat traumatic events can increase the risk of developing complex post-traumatic stress disorder, known as CPTSD, which can increase debilitating symptoms for many Veterans.
Even if service members do not face known traumatic events that cause symptoms of PTSD, the high stress levels associated with some military positions can increase the risk of developing PTSD symptoms. Service members may face a great deal of stress on a daily basis, from external stressors associated with his or her job requirements, to issues associated with their command. In some cases, PTSD can result from those high levels of ongoing strain.
PTSD can pose a serious, ongoing issue for Veterans, impacting every area of his or her daily lives. If you have diagnosed PTSD, you may deserve compensation through a VA claim. Having a lawyer on your side can prove essential as you navigate the complex claim process that often denies applicants. Reach out to us to learn more about our services in a free consultation, including how we can help you fight a claim denial due to a lack of service-connection.
