Governmental assistance unfortunately, is a term that really only boils down to one organization and what that organization is willing to do for you: The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA). But, on the plus side, if it’s a service-related condition, their help is free. All veteran’s of the Global War on Terror (Afghanistan, Iraq, The Horn of Africa, Philippines and other places) by the way, are automatically, no expenses covered by the VA for five years after their term of active service ends. So, if you think that you might have PTSD, it would cost you nothing at all (other than the many headaches of one of the largest bureaucracies in the world) to get checked out.
Building off my previous blog post is some potentially good news for you: when accessing whether or not a former service member has PTSD, the VA uses the same standard I did, the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of the American Psychological Association. If you were galvanized into looking into your mental health more based on what you read previously, you’re already on good footing for making your claim.
Let me mention specifically here, again, a point I brought up earlier. Plain and simple, the VA is a bureaucracy. That means they have a budget, a complex set of rules, long wait times for processing anything and they will be thorough in attempting to deny your claim. Like I said, no one necessarily planned for these protracted wars and this tremendous increase in the number of severely wounded – mentally and physically – combat veterans, and the VA has to cover its own ass by managing its numbers. It’s inhumane to think of, and maddening to know, but it is fact that many veterans will not get the treatment they deserve. This is the truth. Know your enemy and plan accordingly. But don’t give up.
PTSD is one hell of a mother to overcome, but if you can get them to agree to your treatment, the VA does have many different options for treating, like cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy and others. Ideally any one of these would at very least help you on your path towards mental wellness. So why not try?
According to the Veteran’s PTSD Handbook, here is a somewhat definitive list of the things you will need to consider or provide when processing a claim:
1. The VA must follow all of its published rules. Follow to do so is an appealable action.
2. Each of the statutes, CFRs, and manuals are online by linking to the VA home page and search under Compensation and Pension Directives.
3. Your claim must have the following two elements to qualify for service-connected PTSD: evidence of a Stressor and medical evidence that validates it.
4. The U.S. Army Joint Environmental Support Group or the Commandant of the Marine Corps are sources of obtaining records to substantiate your claim.
5. Always have your congressional representative or senator obtain these records on your behalf.
6. If at all possible, have a non-VA health provider evaluate your condition before filing a formal claim.
7. If you’re claiming PTSD caused by combat with the enemy, support it with a list of medals and the corresponding citation that was given. Proving you were directly involved in combat will save you years of haggling with the VA.
8. PTSD-caused noncombat stressors is more difficult to pursue because you have the burden to prove the event did, in fact, occur and is responsible for your PTSD.
9. PTSD symptoms may first surface decades following the actual traumatic experience.
10. Don’t give up. It’s tough but you can appeal and get other people – both within the VA and elsewhere, like the American Legion (next post) -- to advocate on your behalf.
And here is the VA’s FAQ on PTSD and making claims.
The VA is not perfect, but it’s here for you. The organization might not be as compassionate as you might hope, but there are lots of former service members who work for the VA today who’ve made it their personal mission to help you through the system on the way to the assistance you need.
Godspeed, warrior.
Next post: Who will advocate for you if you need it?
Connect with Dario online:
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