Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD | Disability Claims Attorney at Law

PTSD occurs after someone has been through or witnessed a dangerous or fearful event. The fear felt during danger is natural, but when someone has PTSD, that reaction is changed and the person continues to feel stress, anxiety, or fear long after the actual danger is over. PTSD symptoms can begin appearing soon after the traumatic event, or they can appear years after the event. In either case, the effects of even mild PTSD symptoms can be severe, both on the veteran and the people close to him or her.

PTSD can manifest a variety of symptoms, any of which have the potential to cause the veteran to be totally socially and occupationally impaired. Some of the more common symptoms of PTSD are flashbacks, nightmares, staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the event, feeling numb, feeling strong guilt, depression, or worry, losing interest in activities that you used to enjoy, being easily startled, being hyper-vigilant, having difficulty sleeping, feeling tense or on edge, or having angry outbursts.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PTSD?

If you suspect you have PTSD you may qualify for disability compensation benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is considered a type of anxiety condition and there are several different symptoms someone with the condition may experience. Here are some of the signs of PTSD:

• Physical ailments – physical pain such as migraines, dizziness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, digestive issues, and fatigue are common symptoms of PTSD.
• Flashbacks and/or nightmares – you may re-experience the traumatic event with images or sensations of physical and emotional pain and fear. 
• Irritability/anger – you may get overly angry and fly off the handle in situations that don’t warrant it, such as with road rage or during interactions with family and co-workers. 
• Depression or anxiety – you may suffer from persistent and irrational fear, or you may want to avoid certain situations and objects that cause anxiety. 
• Hyperarousal – you become too nervous and jittery to relax because you feel threatened. 
• Withdrawal – you may lose interest in hobbies and activities and withdraw socially and no longer enjoy spending time around others. Some start partaking of risky behavior, such as thrill-seeking or alcohol abuse.
• Avoidance – avoiding any mental or physical stimuli that remind you of your traumatic experiences. 
• Repression – you intentionally block memories that are associated with the experience or past event. 
• Emotional numbing – you try to numb your feelings, which leads to isolation and withdrawal, so you don’t feel pain. 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD | Disability Claims Infographic

CAN I GET VA DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR PTSD?

If you have symptoms of PTSD, you may qualify for disability benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA). To qualify, you must have a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD and have symptoms related to a traumatic event during your military service. A VA provider will examine you to determine whether your alleged traumatic stressor encountered during your military service was traumatic enough to cause your PTSD. 

VA disability claims and appeals can be challenging, so you should try to enlist the help of a VA disability attorney. The VA will assign you a disability rating dependent on your symptoms. As an example, if medication effectively controls your PTSD symptoms, you might have a rating as low as 10 percent, but if your symptoms aren’t as well controlled, your rating may be higher, up to 100 percent.

ELEMENTS OF SERVICE CONNECTION

1. A current diagnosis of PTSD
2. A nexus, established by medical evidence, between the current diagnosis and an in-service stressor
3. Credible evidence that the stressor occurred

RELAXED PTSD STRESSOR STANDARD

In 2010, VA relaxed the rules regarding verification of claimed stressors. Now, if a stressor claimed by a veteran is related to the veteran’s fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, and the claimed stressor is sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD, the veteran’s lay testimony alone may established the occurrence of the claimed stressor. VA defines “fear of hostile military or terrorist activity” to mean that a veteran experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event that involved actual or threatened death or injury to the veteran or another person.

The relaxed standard applies to any veteran from any era, and is intended to facilitate the timely processing of PTSD claims by removing the oftentimes impossible task of verifying a stressor via DoD records.

How to Get the Benefits You Deserve as a Veteran with PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can be debilitating to those who have it, which is why a VA PTSD lawyer Colorado residents trust will get you all the benefits you deserve to help with this disorder. The good news is that there are resources available to help veterans like you get the benefits they deserve; if you were injured during your time in the military and are now unable to work, it’s important that you find a quality lawyer who can help you get all the benefits that you deserve from the VA. If you need help with your application and would like to learn more about the full legal services available, call Greg of Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law at (800) 955-8596 for a free case evaluation today!

What Is Service-Connected Disability?

A service-connected disability is an injury or condition that was caused by military service. A medical professional determines whether your injuries are related to service, and if so, will say it is service-connected. Service-connected disabilities include everything from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to strokes to hearing loss.

Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits provide a wide range of compensation and aid options. In some cases, they can also cover out-of-pocket medical expenses and help you secure long-term care. However, these VA disability benefits are generally only available if your injury or illness is service connected. To receive service-connected disability compensation benefits for your military service, it’s important that you follow the required steps. The process can be complex and confusing if you don’t know where to start or what paperwork to file where.

When and Where to File Your Disability Claim

Veterans who experience combat trauma have to live with that injury for the rest of their lives. Because of this, the VA offers compensation for injuries related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But filing a claim and getting these benefits isn’t always easy. If you’re a veteran and would like to get your disability benefits, it’s best to contact a VA TDIU lawyer as soon as possible. These attorneys are knowledgeable about what documentation is needed to file and win your claim, which will make sure that you receive everything you deserve from the VA.

Many Veterans Are Unaware of Their Rights

It is not uncommon for veterans who served in any of the U.S. military branches, such as the Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Space Force, or Coast Guard to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms may include flashbacks or nightmares of traumatic events and increased avoidance of anything that reminds the person of their trauma. Unfortunately, many veterans are unaware of their rights when it comes to receiving disability benefits for having PTSD.

If you were medically discharged because of a severe injury sustained during your service in the U.S. military, then you may be eligible for disability benefits for PTSD if your condition meets VA’s definition for service-connected disabilities. Generally speaking, service-connected means that your disability was caused by events experienced while on active duty.

If you have been diagnosed with PTSD, then it’s time to file a claim with a Colorado VA PTSD lawyer to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve. Call Greg of Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law at (800) 955-8596 for a free case evaluation today.

HOW I CAN HELP

The VA process for evaluating PTSD or other mental disorders is wholly inadequate with VA C&P examinations often lasting less than 30 minutes. Because it’s impossible to truly evaluate how PTSD impacts all areas of a veteran’s life in such a short appointment, it’s often necessary to obtain an independent medical exam from a private psychologist.

MY FEE

I work on a contingency fee basis which means you pay no up-front fees for my representation. You only pay my fee if I successfully resolve your appeal. My fee is a reasonable percentage of your backpay award, and does not impact your future benefits. As a VA disability lawyer, I am here to help you.

In addition, I advance all costs of your appeal including the cost of obtaining independent medical examinations (when appropriate). You are only responsible for repayment of expenses upon successful resolution of your appeal, or if you terminate my representation before final conclusion of your appeal.

WHY ME

I handle every aspect of your case from initial intake to resolution, and as a disabled veteran myself, I understand what you are going through. I don’t use support staff, so you are always dealing with me and I pride myself on responding to my clients in a timely manner.

Our Firm’s Military Experience & Education

Each team member at After Service LLC has a personal connection to the military. Two of our attorneys have served in the armed forces, bringing firsthand experience and understanding to the challenges faced by service members and their families. Our lead attorney, Gregory M. Rada, received his A.A.S. degree in Aviation Operations at the Community College of the Air Force. He then earned his bachelor’s degree in information technology while serving in the Air Force. With our collective military background, we are truly a firm of veterans, for veterans.

Call Our Office Today

If you have been diagnosed with PTSD, contact Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law to meet with our Colorado VA PTSD lawyer to find out how this could affect your disability claim and benefits. Call Greg at (800) 955-8596 for a free case evaluation.

What You Need to Know about PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD is a serious condition that can be debilitating. It can cause significant difficulties in a person’s life, including relationships, work, and school life.

It’s important to get help as soon as possible to reduce your risk of developing long-term problems. If you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD or if you think you may have the condition, here’s what you need to know about it:

What is PTSD?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

PTSD can occur at any age and in people of all ethnic backgrounds, gender, and socioeconomic groups. About 7 or 8 out of every 100 adults will develop PTSD at some point in their lives.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

The symptoms of PTSD fall into different categories: Symptoms may include:

• Re-experiencing symptoms — flashbacks or memories of the traumatic event; disturbing dreams related to the event; and intense psychological distress when exposed to reminders of the trauma
• Avoidance symptoms — avoiding people or places that remind you of the event; feeling numb or disconnected from others; withdrawing from activities you once enjoyed; not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
• Hyperarousal symptoms — being easily startled or on guard for threats even when they aren’t present (for example, avoiding making noise in a movie theater because it reminds you of gunfire)

If you have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD, it’s important to get help. The symptoms of PTSD can be severe and disabling, but there are treatments that work. If you think you may have PTSD, see your doctor or talk with a mental health professional who has experience treating trauma victims.

Who gets PTSD?

Anyone can develop PTSD at some point in their life after experiencing a traumatic event like war combat or sexual assault. However, you’re more likely to develop PTSD if you’ve experienced other traumatic events in your past too. The more trauma you’ve experienced, the higher your risk of developing PTSD later on. Women are also twice as likely to develop PTSD than men after experiencing trauma.

How do I know if I have PTSD?

Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. But if you have been through a traumatic experience and are still having symptoms months or years later, there’s a good chance you have this condition.

The symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder fall into four categories: reliving the event (also called re-experiencing), avoiding things that remind you of the event, negative changes in thinking and mood, and feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal). You might not have all these symptoms.

Reliving the event can include having upsetting memories, bad dreams, or flashbacks — where you feel like you’re going through the experience again. You may even feel like you’re going to be harmed or die during these episodes.

Avoiding things that remind you of the event means trying very hard to avoid situations or conversations that trigger memories of what happened in order to manage your emotions.

What treatments are available for people with PTSD?

There aren’t any medications that can cure or prevent PTSD — but there are ways to manage symptoms, so they don’t interfere with everyday life. Exposure therapy is one type of treatment that helps people learn how not to be afraid of things that remind them of their trauma (like loud noises or crowds). A Disability lawyer like Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law, can help you today by scheduling your consultation.