Symptoms of PTSD and Other Mental Disorders

PTSD & Other Mental Disorders

What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening.

After the event, you may feel scared, confused, or angry. If these feelings don't go away or they get worse, you may have PTSD. These symptoms may disrupt your life, making it hard to continue with your daily activities.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be terrifying. They may disrupt your life and make it hard to continue with your daily activities. It may be hard just to get through the day.

PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not happen until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If the symptoms last longer than 4 weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, you probably have PTSD.

There are four types of symptoms: reliving the event, avoidance, numbing, and feeling keyed up.

Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms):

Bad memories of the traumatic event can come back at any time. You may feel the same fear and horror you did when the event took place. You may have nightmares. You even may feel like you're going through the event again. This is called a flashback. Sometimes there is a trigger: a sound or sight that causes you to relive the event. Triggers might include loud noises, witnessing another traumatic incident, etc.

Avoiding situations that remind you of the event:

You may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. For veterans this typically involves avoiding movies and television programs about war, avoiding smells such as types of food and restaurants where the smells are a reminder, avoiding fireworks displays, etc. due to the sound. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event.

Feeling numb:

You may find it hard to express your feelings. This is another way to avoid memories.

• You may not have positive or loving feelings toward other people and may stay away from relationships
• You may not be interested in activities you used to enjoy

• You may forget about parts of the traumatic event or not be able to talk about them.

Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal):

You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. This is known as hyperarousal. It can cause you to:

• Suddenly become angry or irritable
• Have a hard time sleeping
• Have trouble concentrating
• Fear for your safety and always feel on guard

• Be very startled when someone surprises you

What are other common problems?

People with PTSD may also have other problems. These include:

• Drinking or drug problems
• Feelings of hopelessness, shame, or despair
• Employment problems
• Relationships problems including divorce and violence

• Physical symptoms

VA Disability Compensation for PTSD

In order to obtain VA disability compensation for PTSD a veteran must be prove the following:

• STRESSOR: The VA places the burden on the veteran to first provide evidence that an in-service stressful event called a "stressor" occurred. The VA will "concede" (accept the stressor without further proof) for veterans who have received a combat-related award or decoration such as a Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, or any number of individual awards for valor.

• DIAGNOSIS: The veteran must have a diagnosis of PTSD from a medical expert such as a psychologist or psychiatrist (counselor's do not qualify). Additionally, the diagnosis of PTSD must be the result or connected to of one or more provable in-service stressors. This is generally referred to as a "nexus".

Why you may need a Lawyer

Proving Stressors

The VA's most frequent basis for denying a PTSD claim is that the veteran has failed to prove an in-service stressor. This is particularly true for older veterans due to the amount of time between service and the disability claim. Veterans may be unable to locate records documenting stressful events or unable to locate witnesses who could document a stressor a stressful event. To make matters worse, on July 12, 1973, a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis destroyed 75-80% of the Army and Air Force records for service members who served up to 1964 (1960 for Army and 1964 for Air Force). This has placed an outrageous additional burden on veterans.

How can we help? We have an investigator who is trained and experience at tracking down evidence to verify stressors whether it be documents are witnesses. In fact, as a result of our success in tracking down witness we are proud to have helped numerous veteran reestablish contact with battle buddies they have spoken to since there time in service, many of who stay reconnected.

Diagnosis

The VA's second most frequent basis for denying is a lack of diagnosis of PTSD or lack of a diagnosis of PTSD that is linked to the in-service stressful event(s).

How can we help? We work with your treating doctors (VA and civilian) by providing them helpful information about your condition that may assist in obtaining an accurate diagnosis including statements from the veteran and various family members, friends and co-workers. This is particularly helpful in PTSD cases where veterans find it difficult to express to doctors what they are experiencing.

Rating Level

If a veteran is granted service connected disability for PTSD the VA will assign a rating according to the current severity of the symptoms (not on the severity of the stressful event). The ratings are range from 10, 30, 50, 70 and 100%. The VA frequently under rates veterans with PTSD assigning ratings at the lower end of the spectrum either because the veteran who does not understand what is needed has failed to submit sufficient evidence of the severity, or the VA has blatantly disregarded the evidence of the severity of symptoms.

How can we help? WE KNOW THE LAW. We know what rating the VA should sign based upon your symptoms and will both obtain evidence to document the severity level and point out to the VA the appropriate level of rating. It is this legal knowledge and ability to hold the VA accountable in a court of law that makes us the equalizer in the VA system.

Other Mental Disorders

In addition to PTSD, veterans may obtain disability compensation for various other mental disorders that occurred in or were aggravated during service. The major difference between PTSD and Other Mental Disoders is that with Other Mental Disorder the veteran is not required prove a stressful event. The list recognized by the VA includes the following:

• Mood Disorders including Bipolar, Dysthymic, Major Depressive,
• Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
• Anxiety Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorde
• Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder
• Delusional Disorder
• Psychotic Disorder
• Dementia
• Organic Mental Disorder
• Phobia(s)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Dissaociative Amnesia, fugue, Identify Disorder (multiple personality disorder)
• Depersonalization disorder
• Somatoform Disorders
• Mood Disorders including Bipolar, Dysthymic, Major Depressive,

• Chronic Adjustment Disorder

How can we help?

Diagnosis

How can we help? As discussed previously with respect to PTSD, we work with your treating doctors (VA and civilian) by providing them helpful information about your condition that may assist in obtaining an accurate diagnosis including statements from the veteran and various family members, friends and co-workers.

Rating Level

How can we help? As discussed previously with respect to PTSD, WE KNOW THE LAW. We know what rating the VA should sign based upon your symptoms and will both obtain evidence to document the severity level and point out to the VA the appropriate level of rating. It is this legal knowledge and ability to hold the VA accountable in a court of law that makes us the equalizer in the VA system.

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