Pennsylvania VA PTSD Lawyer

Pennsylvania VA PTSD lawyers grounded in over a decade of representation on behalf of veterans nationwide.

If you are a veteran living with PTSD from your military service and your symptoms are affecting your ability to work or maintain daily functioning, you may be entitled to VA disability benefits. At Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law, we represent veterans at every stage of the claims and appeals process, from Regional Office decisions through the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. Our Pennsylvania VA PTSD lawyer, Greg Rada, has represented veterans in PTSD disability cases since 2012. Consultations are free, and there are no attorney fees unless your appeal succeeds.

VA PTSD Lawyer Pennsylvania

Post-traumatic stress disorder is among the most prevalent service-connected conditions and also among the most frequently underrated by the VA. The VA uses a fixed rating scale to assess how severely PTSD impairs a veteran’s occupational and social functioning. Ratings are assigned at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%. A veteran rated at 70% is assessed as having near-constant impairment in several areas of functioning, difficulty adapting to stressful situations, and symptoms that interfere with reliable employment. A 100% rating corresponds to total social and occupational impairment.

A Pennsylvania VA PTSD attorney works to make sure that a rating reflects what a veteran actually experiences. Veterans who have been denied service connection, assigned ratings that do not correspond to their documented symptoms, or whose claims have stalled without adequate explanation have the right to pursue further review.

Types of VA PTSD Cases We Handle in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania veterans pursuing PTSD claims present a range of distinct circumstances. Some are appealing initial denials. Others received a rating that does not reflect the documented severity of their condition. Below are the primary case types we handle.

• Service Connection for PTSD. Establishing that PTSD is connected to military service is the threshold requirement for any PTSD disability claim. The VA requires a current diagnosis, an in-service stressor, and a medical opinion linking the two. Combat veterans may benefit from a presumptive stressor determination, while non-combat claims require more particularized documentation. We assist veterans in developing the record needed to establish service connection.
• Increased Rating Appeals. An initial PTSD rating frequently does not account for the full extent of a veteran’s symptoms. Persistent nightmares, hypervigilance, depression, panic, and impaired capacity for employment are each relevant to a higher rating. We review the record and identify where the VA’s evaluation failed to reflect the evidence.
• TDIU. Veterans whose service-connected PTSD prevents them from maintaining substantially gainful employment may qualify for TDIU benefits, which provide compensation at the 100% rate regardless of the assigned schedular rating. These claims require documentation showing that PTSD, alone or combined with other service-connected disabilities, renders the veteran unable to sustain consistent employment.
• Denied PTSD Claims. A denial does not foreclose further options. Veterans may file a supplemental claim with new and relevant evidence, request a higher-level review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. We identify the basis for the denial and determine the most appropriate path forward.
• Secondary Conditions Linked to PTSD. Depression, anxiety disorders, sleep disturbances, and substance use disorders frequently develop as secondary results of service-connected PTSD. Each may be separately ratable, potentially increasing a veteran’s combined disability percentage. These connections are often absent from initial claims and merit separate consideration.
• Military Sexual Trauma PTSD Claims. Veterans whose PTSD originates from military sexual trauma face distinct evidentiary challenges, as many incidents were never officially reported. The VA permits alternative forms of corroborating evidence in these cases, and knowing what documentation satisfies that standard is essential.
• C&P Exam Challenges. The Compensation and Pension examination is one of the most consequential steps in a PTSD claim. An examiner who does not review the full claims file or whose report does not accurately reflect the frequency and severity of a veteran’s symptoms can produce findings that result in an inadequate rating. We advise veterans on what a C&P exam involves and assist in challenging examinations that fail to meet the required standard.
• Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Veterans who receive an unfavorable Board decision may appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Attorney Rada is admitted to practice before the CAVC and has represented veterans in appellate proceedings at that level.

Why Choose Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law as My VA PTSD Lawyer in Pennsylvania?

A Practice Focused Exclusively on Veterans Disability Law

Greg Rada has practiced as a veterans disability lawyer in Pennsylvania and across the country since 2012. Before entering the legal profession, he served in the United States Air Force from 2002 to 2008 as a C-17 loadmaster, accumulating over 2,200 flight hours including 828 combat hours during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and left service as a disabled veteran. His own VA disability claim took eight years to resolve, an experience that shapes how he approaches every case he takes.

Attorney Rada has represented veterans in hundreds of disability proceedings, including PTSD service connection disputes, increased rating appeals, and TDIU claims. The firm handles VA disability work exclusively at all levels: Regional Offices nationwide, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Greg earned his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law, graduating in the top quarter of his class. He is a member of the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates and volunteers with the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program.

No Fees Unless You Win

Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law handles VA disability appeals on contingency. No attorney fees are due unless your appeal results in an award of benefits. There is no cost to consult with Greg.

Understanding VA PTSD Disability Cases

PTSD Ratings, Symptoms, and What the VA Evaluates

The VA evaluates PTSD using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, assigning ratings at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100% based on the degree of occupational and social impairment the condition produces. A veteran rated at 50% is assessed as experiencing reduced reliability at work and difficulty maintaining relationships. At 70%, the standard reflects near-constant impairment across multiple areas of functioning, persistent depression, and difficulty sustaining employment. A 100% rating corresponds to total social and occupational incapacity.

Several factors influence the rating ultimately assigned:

• The frequency and duration of symptoms during typical daily functioning, not only at their most acute
• Whether PTSD prevents or substantially limits employment
• Whether medication controls symptoms and whether side effects create independent functional limitations
• How consistently symptoms are documented in the treatment record
• Whether the C&P examination was conducted with adequate review of the claims file

The VA is required to apply the benefit of the doubt standard in disability determinations: when evidence is in approximate balance, the decision must favor the veteran. That obligation governs all stages of the claims process.

What Are Important Aspects of a VA PTSD Case?

The outcome of a PTSD claim is often determined by the quality of the evidence and whether the VA followed its own procedural obligations, not solely by the severity of the veteran’s condition.

• The nexus between service and the diagnosis. A current PTSD diagnosis is necessary, but the VA also requires a documented link between that diagnosis and a specific in-service stressor. For non-combat veterans, establishing that stressor requires particular attention to available evidence. Gaps in documentation do not automatically defeat a claim, but they must be addressed deliberately.
• The adequacy of the C&P examination. The VA examiner’s opinion carries substantial weight in rating decisions. An examination that relies on an incomplete record or fails to account for the full range of reported symptoms may undervalue the disability. Mental health conditions rated on insufficient exams are among the most frequently appealed outcomes.
• Secondary and related conditions. PTSD is often accompanied by depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, each of which may be separately compensable. Identifying and documenting these secondary connections can meaningfully affect a veteran’s overall disability rating and monthly compensation.

What Is the VA PTSD Case Timeline?

Processing times vary depending on the stage of the claims or appeals process:

• Initial claim: The VA targets resolution within 125 days, though PTSD claims requiring a C&P examination frequently take longer.
• Supplemental claim: Generally resolved within 125 days when new and relevant evidence is submitted.
• Higher-level review: Typically resolved within a comparable timeframe.
• Board of Veterans’ Appeals: Direct review cases may exceed one year. Hearing dockets frequently extend to two or three years.
• Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: Cases at this level typically require one to two additional years.

A well-documented initial filing reduces delays at each subsequent stage.

What Should You Bring to Your Consultation?

A consultation with Attorney Rada is most productive when supporting documentation is available. Useful materials include:

• Your VA rating decision, denial letter, or statement of the case
• Compensation and Pension examination reports you have received
• Medical records pertaining to your PTSD diagnosis and treatment
• Your DD-214 or other military discharge documentation
• Prior appeal filings or VA correspondence

If these records are not yet available, that should not delay reaching out. We can advise on obtaining what your claim requires.

What Are Important Pennsylvania Legal Resources for VA PTSD Cases?

Pennsylvania veterans pursuing PTSD disability claims may find the following state and federal resources useful for understanding available programs and locating support.

• The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs administers state-level veterans benefits and programs for PA veterans and their families.
• PA VETConnect, administered by the DMVA, provides a resource database for Pennsylvania veterans covering mental health, financial assistance, employment, and post-traumatic stress support.
• County Directors of Veterans Affairs throughout Pennsylvania offer local assistance to veterans and dependents in identifying and applying for state and federal benefits.
• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs maintains a PTSD disability eligibility page describing the requirements for service connection and compensation.
• The VA’s disability ratings overview explains how ratings are determined and how multiple service-connected conditions are combined.

Reach Out to Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law to Schedule a Consultation

If your VA PTSD claim has been denied or assigned a rating that does not reflect the documented severity of your condition, further review is available. Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law has represented veterans in disability claims and appeals since 2012, with a practice devoted entirely to VA disability law. The firm operates on contingency. There are no upfront costs, and no attorney fees are due unless your appeal results in an award of benefits. Contact Greg to schedule a free consultation.