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Getting Help for Your PTSD

Getting Help for Your PTSD

Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: You Are Not Alone

If you’re suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or any other mental health disorder, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Recent studies show that PTSD affects about 7.7 million American adults. Current estimates indicate that nearly 31 percent of Vietnam veterans have PTSD, along with as many as 10 percent of Gulf War veterans, 11 percent of veterans from the war in Afghanistan, and 20 percent of Iraqi war veterans. PTSD can occur at any age, affects people of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds, and has nothing to do with how “strong” you happen to be.

While symptoms of PTSD often appear within three months of the traumatic incident, it can take longer in others. Sometimes, the symptoms can start out mildly and be exacerbated by later events. PTSD affects mood, memory, the ability to concentrate, your career, and the ability to enjoy life. PTSD can also affect sleep, and can cause hypervigilance and/or aggression. PTSD has also been linked to depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse of medication, drugs, and alcohol. Researchers are currently studying how various medications and therapies reduce PTSD symptoms and aid in recovery.

Importance Of Getting Help With Your PTSD

If you recognize any of these symptoms as affecting your life, please know that it’s important to get help. PTSD and other mental health disorders related to trauma and/or chronic pain are considered disabling, and you can receive disability compensation from the VA for these conditions. Veterans who experienced traumatic events during their military service, whether or not they were directly impacted, may file claims for mental health conditions. For many veterans, a traumatic brain injury can exacerbate the effects of PTSD and have many overlapping symptoms.

Filing A Claim For Your PTSD

Filing a claim for your PTSD or other mental health condition is an important first step in getting the help you need. If you’re undiagnosed, the VA is required to provide a free medical examination. If you receive service connection for that condition, or if your total evaluation is high enough, you’re also entitled to treatment and medications from the VA. Finally, you are also entitled to monthly disability compensation for any service-connected conditions.

If you have filed a claim for PTSD or any other condition with the VA and have been denied, the Berry Law can help you receive the benefits to which you are entitled. Please contact our office at 1-855-278-7414 for a free consultation.

Berry Law

The attorneys at Berry Law are dedicated to helping injured Veterans. With extensive experience working with VA disability claims, Berry Law can help you with your disability appeals.

This material is for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship between the Firm and the reader, and does not constitute legal advice. Legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and the contents of this blog are not a substitute for legal counsel.

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