Falsely claiming PTSD for VA benefits?

It just ain't popular at this point in time to investigate such claims. The VA requires you to link a provable event like deployment or presence at a certain place and time to PTSD and then go through it with psych. So in some way, he was able to connect his behaviors to an event that the VA thought was credible. It is even possible that the event was a sexual or non sexual assault of which he was the victim, rather than combat, which would also explain his ambiguity and difficulty in dealing with this condition. Or he could have fooled everyone. But can you see where you trying to be the agent of justice in this situation is going to possibly wreck you instead? As far as ability to shoot / hunt / conceal carry, well PTSD is not (automatically) a legally disqualifying event at this point in time. Finally, look up HIPA and you will see it is illegal for you in your official capacity to go after his medical claims by exposing them publicly. So again, you pursue this guy and his case at your own risk.

There are those that will try to get whatever they can. This will always be true. PTSD is very hard to diagnosis. When I was going through the process I was asked about my experiences (stressors) by many docs at different times and then putting them together to see if the story changed. I guess what I am trying to say is that there is a many ways for the docs to see if someone is trying to talk their way into a rating. They even went so far to find me incompetent (removing my 2nd amendment) to make sure.

Honestly PTSD can affect an individual in many different ways. Myself serving 20 years suffer from PTSD 4 combat tours and that includes 2 15 month deployments. I have nightmares, outburst, want to be alone all the time, I put off therapy for awhile due to having to talk about and re-live the events almost every session was taking a toll on me on top of the medication prescribed to me, I had enough and had to find an alternative to for my issues, as for your question, who really knows and why, can you fake having PTSD? I honestly can’t answer that cause I personally have not met a veteran or Soldier currently serving that doesn’t have some sort of traumatic event regardless if served in combat or a garrison Soldier. The military puts a lot of strain and stress on an individual where it can cause and lead to depression, anxiety which those two are very much linked to PTSD in Soldiers. I am pretty sure if someone was to fake it the Doctors/Specialist would recognize it and address it.

First the VA purposely classes most mental health under ptsd,

I have adjustment disorder due to paralysis and nerve damage, and leg injuries.

I told va you have it under ptsd, they won’t change it.

Plus it took a lot of evidence to prove my case so I’m pretty sure it’s happening less than

“Karen veterans” think it’s happening!

First the VA purposely classes most mental health under ptsd,

I have adjustment disorder due to paralysis and nerve damage, and leg injuries.

I told va you have it under ptsd, they won’t change it.

Plus it took a lot of evidence to prove my case so I’m pretty sure it’s happening less than

“Karen veterans” think it’s happening!

Had a buddy in Basic who during the Move out Alpha, Cover me Bravo phase was the recipient of an M-14 round through the back of his helmet, across the top of his head, leaving a scar but no blood and out the front. Do NOT know if he qualified but I damned well think the E-6 in charge of that range did. I have never seen a man so scared. Seriously, any life threatening event can lead to PTSD but the question is, and there is NO easy answer, how much should you be able to just suck up and when do you cross the line. My eldest mentored a Vietnamese immigrant in ROTC and advised him how to get his commission. Absolutely wonderful kid, not the greatest English which held him back and there was a hostility from the ROTC commander that was palpable. Anyway he made it, wanted Infantry, Got it, went to the 'Stan, had his RTO's brains blown all over his face by a sniper shot and became a drunk. Got an early out and we have unfortunately lost touch. Uncle Mike was a 29 year old designated sniper in the Hurtegen forest with the Yankee Division and carried that with him till he died. Uncle Andy was with the 1st ID in North Africa, did Sicily and the went up the boot at age 28. He cracked and was sent home, one of the last two members of his original Company. I was lucky, never went nowhere in the Army but a few years later,went off a motorcycle head first at 60MPH on NYC's West Side Highway. I relive that one every few nights. So, it is a hard one to call.

Almost two years after returning from Iraq, I was diagnosed by an Army doctor, AND a Veterans Admin doctor. Their records show a high level of PTSD. I went through about two years of counseling at the VA. I still have an occasional nightmare and a couple triggers, but I learned, by practice, how to get through the triggers or how to avoid them. I can’t do anything about the dreams. The VA has me on a 30% Disability rating, but I have not applied to have PTSD added to my disability. I chose not to mainly because how long it takes and all the paperwork involved to update those records. I’m sick of Army paperwork.

5 years ago I’d be right there with you.

But now having seen how the VA works this sort of thing is often a choice between some people claiming PTSD but not actually having it and taking advantage of the system, and some people needing the help but not being able to get it due to red tape. I’d rather it be available for anyone who needs it, and some play the system, than stop the dirtbags but let one guy who needs it go without. If that makes sense.

Here’s another option: mind your own business. In the military, as in life, there’s a simple philosophy that should guide you, here it is:
If they don’t rate you, pay you, or fuck... then they don’t matter.

By forcefully trying to assert yourself into someone else’s issue, you stand to put yourself, your subordinates, peers, and superiors needlessly in harms way when this turd vectors in on you for fucking with his life. If he’s faking, he threw a smoke grenade... eventually it will dissipate and the VA will see the turd for what he is. In reality, who cares? Uncle sugar three millions of dollars at a time financings Hodges IED business, disguised at a electronic shop, from a business plan sketched out on the back of an MRE box. Honestly, dude... I’d prob suggest you just watch your Lane.

First, the idea of one firing their weapon in combat or not has absolutely nothing to do with PTSD. Being placed in a combat zone itself is enough to give a reasonable person reason to feel their life is in danger, and that in itself is the core of PTSD.

Second, having PTSD even with a rating of 100% does not automatically disqualify someone from owning firarms, going to a range, hunting, or getting various permits. That's just an unfortunate misconception that prevents many veterans from seeking the help they need and should be dispelled.

As for him lying his career to his family, that is also something for them to deal with as a family. He isn't the first service member to embellish what he did either overall or during big moments. Provided he didn't seek some kind of compensation or benefits for the story he hasn't done anything criminal that would warrant an investigation simply for claiming the was a sniper.

He is also not the first to not follow his prescriptions. They don't work for everyone, and some simply dont want to be medicated, but that doesn't stop some doctors who are quick to hand out meds. Some vets also claim to be cured of stuff, especially related to mental health, because they are embarrassed about it and don't want people looking at them different.

As for what I would do, I would mind my own business. You don't know what demons another person is wrestling with, and as an outsider none of us have all the facts of his records, medical or otherwise, so we should withold our judgement. As someone going through the VA claims process right now I can tell you there's a lot more to a claim then simply saying you have an injury or condition, especially to be rated at 100% for it. So the fact that he was rated 100% for PTSD says that his records and his story he told during his exams met the criteria for that rating.

Also, the VA does reviews at times, so even if he is rated at 100% If he is claiming to be doing better, not attending appointments and such it's possible the VA will reduce his rating at such time. But gain, that's between them and the Soldier, not something we should be debating amongst ourselves because we don't have the facts, only the assumptions.