Falsely claiming PTSD for VA benefits?

I really don't get people like this. I was misdiagnosed fir PTSD (As it wasn't a thing back then) long before I joined the military. After serving more than twenty years, I still wasn't given any compensation. Served: Many conflicts from 1983-2004 the world over. Most recent Afghanistan and Iraq, Desert Shield/Storm and more. 35% disability. About 85% mentally healed. I've been caught in shootouts, witnessed multiple people get shot, and saw a dear friend stabbed multiple times. All prior to the military. I recall being around 11 or 12 and lying on the ground avoiding bullets being fired between feuding neighbors. I have little respect or compassion for people who try and manipulate the system for selfish gain.

After over 30 years of suffering, I am finally receiving medication and treatment for PTSD resulting from the near loss-of-life (another soldier could have died, was not injured, but I ended up in the hospital) during an emergency roll-out alert in West Germany, during the Cold War. I am not, nor have I ever claimed to be a combat veteran.

Different people react to different things in very different ways. Hunting, or concealed carry may not be triggers for that particular person. People lie to their family members all the time, trying to reduce the stress on those others. That doesn't mean they aren't dealing with PTSD.

If you don't have PTSD, you cannot truly understand it. Don't undermine, or belittle those with if (for whatever reason), just because you do not understand it. It took my little brother being shot by a sniper, while on patrol in Iraq and dealing with his PTSD, to recognize my own. If you did have PTSD, you wouldn't ask such a question. Since you are not a person trained in the diagnosis, or treatment of PTSD, don't cause trouble where you aren't qualified.

The level of proof and testing that comes with a PTSD claim and the baggage that comes with it, make is highly unlikely very many people would falsely file the claim. What you are describing actually sounds exactly like someone who is struggling with PTSD and mental health. Maybe try to support the veteran rather than trash him?

Over the years, I have seen way too many vets collect disabilities who, in my view, don’t warrant them.

I would have to ask, where was his overseas tour? Was it in a combat zone? I have an example of this with my uncle’s tour in Nam. He was not in an area where he fired his rifle as a Marine weatherman. However he was close enough to get bomb raids and have to run for shelter and had a risk on VC entering the camp. The closest he got to combat was when he was going on R&R but his bird got reassigned to pick up wounded. He ended up having to head some unlike Marines head together with his hands. Would you believe he should get ruled as having PTSD even though he didn’t fire his rifle?

There are many medics also that have never been in a combat zone, yet watched men and women coming to their field hospital in various degrees of dismemberment. Do they get to be ruled as PTSD?

Now if this soldier was stationed overseas outside a combat zone and never saw these type of things or had to truly fear for his immediate death from an enemy. The. I would say no.

Unlikely to get 100%, I got 70% on PTSD. My worn knees and back are not considered a problem though.

You seem to think you are smarter than VA psychologists and are able to see into his head.
There are really two issues.
1. The PTSD. The VA does a pretty good job of vetting PTSD. I was evaluated by a retired Army doctor who served at the same time. There were at least four psychiatrists.
2. His threatening his fellow soldiers. This should be handled as a separate issue.
Overall, don't get your self in a tizzy.

I see this all the time and it makes me sick. My coworker did 6 years in active Army. He gets 90% for shoulder and back from VA. He plays competition softball damn near every weekend. You cannot tell me this is not fraud. Over 50% of the guard members I served with are getting some % of disability. Some claim PTSD and get VA money and never left the wire in Iraq. Just sad.

This is a trick question in the worst way. The man claims he sick and you have to decide whether you believe him. Now let’s take two people the first person is a doctor that has 12 years of training in another 10 years of actual practice he’s interview the individual and looked at a hell of a lot of things and come to a conclusion. The second person (me) Has no formal medical training but has read several books and articles about the case he has first-hand knowledge of the individual because he talk to him a total of 10 hours over some five years and he has an opinion. No which would you as a reasonable juror believe. It’s very possible that either or both of the people making a diagnosis or wrong. But if one of the individuals is right and the other is wrong I’m going to bet on the doctor. It’s certainly true the doctors are not always right but they have a better batting average than the average citizen who does not know what he’s talking about. Out of the millions of people that the VA sends money to are there some that are gaming the system and should be caught and punished? Absolutely. And if you have real information you should report it to the appropriate authorities but if you’re just sitting around the bar speculating then you’re throwing mud on a fellow veteran who may not deserve it. In my personal case it was brought home to me when I got a liver infection and almost died. The liver is inside and no one could see it and even I didn’t know what was happening to me. At first the doctors were confused and didn’t realize what it was either. Even after they diagnosed it and started trying to treat me things were not going well it really really looked like I was going to die. On the outside you couldn’t see anything. But once or twice a week I just go “ stupid“ I didn’t know my own name I didn’t know what or where I was I didn’t know who anybody else was I couldn’t take care of myself at all. A couple days in the hospital with IVs and I was all straightened out. Remember this went from once a month to a couple times a week over a years time and I didn’t know any of it was happening to me only after I was cured and got a liver transplant did my wife and the doctors tell me what happened. Back to this case I don’t know anything about it. But something that happens to you at 25 can trigger a memory from something to happen to you at five and suddenly you have PTSD. The thing that happened to you at 25 didn’t / wouldn’t affect anyone else but you had a pre-existing condition because of what happened at the age of five and you didn’t even know it

I've always contended that there were more veterans falsely claiming PTSD then the ones who really suffer from it. I never said to my psychologist that I suffered from PTSD however thru several consultations I was diagnosed with not 1 but 2 different types of PTSD BUT I NEVER CLAIMED IT AND NEVER WILL. I know this guy who had hit the VA up claiming PTSD because he had his ass kicked ONCE by 3 fellow enlisted personnel and he actually is getting paid. He has a big insulting mouth and most likely deserved having his ass kicked.
Sgt. GM Clark U.S.M.C.