Falsely claiming PTSD for VA benefits?

Pathetic and what a disgrace to all who fought. and served. And this govt with its useless care free way of printing and giving money away is a slap in the face to all of the hard working men and women who pay taxes. How this clown lives with himself and turning down dr. appointments without an explanation should be enough to have his disability revoked!

It possible cases like this that make it harder for those of us who have possible PTSD to truly get help. I have requested screening twice and have been told I don't fit the criteria as I have learned through mental practice to not react harshly to loud unexpected noises. Took years to retrain my brain. But because I don't act guarded or wake up screaming I can't claim PTSD per the VA screening questions. Seems unfair that the above mentioned person seems to be playing the system.

I was told by the VA that I don’t have PTSD, I didn’t appeal it because I was going through a divorce at the time. A private psychologist did diagnose me with it. I know I have it. That psychologist had since retired and I’m having a hard time finding someone with the credentials to evaluate me and write a nexus letter. It’s almost as if they are all afraid of doing it. Extremely frustrated.
A person is never cured of PTSD, they just learn how to cope with it. The VA counselor I went to was no help. Our sessions didn’t help. She meant well, but was a younger lady who couldn’t comprehend what combat is like. She never let me talk about it, never answered my questions. My main question is why does my combat experience affect my personal life? I still haven’t got an answer from a professional. Anything I have learned has been from googling it.
It’s a frustrating process

If they have PTSD they can't get a weapon permit or a hunting license

As someone who has gone through this process (I was seeing base mental health a year before I got out. I was being seen continuously for 7 years before applying for benefits. By that time I been in a psych ward 3 times). The process of applying for and getting service connected for PTSD isn't that simple. Not only that but you face all kinds biases against you from VA employees.
Many years ago when the VA allowed smoking on their campus I went to a smoke shack and started up a conversation with a person there. I mentioned I had applied for PTSD benefits. He responded by saying that he automatically denies every PTSD claim that he comes across. I didn't know he was an employee till that moment. His reasoning - because if he approved any of the PTSD claims then that/those vet/s would make more now then he would when he retired. This was many years ago around 1998. Of coarse you also get those that believe that any injury you can't see somehow doesn't exist. I think it's also good that someone brought up the fact that combat isn't the only place where someone might experience something that causes PTSD sever enough to affect their daily life.

my first thoughts would be if you have a problem with this person and is this a legit accusation or are you simply trying to use the government as a weapon to persecute this man. how can you know all these things for sure. i suffer from ptsd and have attended counseling for years long before it was recognized by the military. i participated in the first group pilot program at audie murphy in san antonio when it started. today i don't take drugs and i don't go to counseling, i was never in combat and never fired a weapon. combat is not a prerequisite for ptsd, my suggestion would be to get more information on ptsd itself before you ruin someones life.

I see this every day!!! I am a state employee that helps veterans. With that said I spend a extremely large amount of time at the Local VA Medical Center which also has a exhaustive amount of homeless housing. So, I work with the VA staff and directors on a daily bases. Here is what I see everyday. Young 4 year tour veterans looking for a 100% ever how they can get it. Example, Young lady spent four years in the Navy,said she was stationed at an air defense battery in Poland, does the Navy do this?. She was now out of the service drawing 90% for her time in Poland and was madder than a wet hen because the VA was dragging there feet on her 100% claim. The young man that just left the waiting room lost his right leg in combat (Afghanistan) just below the hip and was only drawing 90%. I have found that most of the one making the most noise are those just looking for a check. I have observed from talking to thousand of veterans that those in the thick of battle, does not really want to talk about it. It is humerus to me as I sit in the parking lot at the VA, watching these veterans climb out of their new Corvette and can barely move get their Rollator F22 out the trunk and creep into the Medical Center, couple hours later you see them walking normally, at a high rate of speed to that new corvette and off they go. Listen, I am a 23 Year Marine Vet with a 90% rating for abusing my body that long. New Shoulder, need two new knees, back and neck injuries, all service connected. Yes, it would be nice to have that 100% check, but it is not worth my integrity to falsify my condition for a check. Two more examples of why the VA needs over site: A 4 Year Air force vet never left the US, Florida, was military police, fell jumping a fence back in the year 80s, was out of work for 2 days with a bruised back. Got out and became a biker, drinking and partying to the point of two heart attacks, and other physical illnesses associated with his Drinking and drugging lifestyle. Fought for years against the VA as service connected. Was denied until he obtained a Lawyer, he now draws a 100% and runs a business on the side. I'm working with a Vietnam Veteran, lost two fingers and numerous other injuries from that war and he is only drawing 30%. Okay I lied, one more: young 30 something Veteran, 4 years one tour in the gulf, draws a 100% for PTSD and back injury. He know operates a tire store and is a power lifter at the local gym. Need i say more. The system is broken and has no guidance, it is the greasy wheel effect or who you know. You don't have to believe me, Next time your at the VA, stop being in-tuned to your phone or IPad and put your head on a swivel, look around, stay alert and listen, you will see it for your self. Everyone drawing a big check is tell everyone else how to do it, and how to lie about for the check

I was listening to a clip of Jason Everman on Rogan, he brought up the tribal sense of belonging when you deploy.

That 120person section, which happens to be Dunbar's number, a suggested cognitive limit to the number of people with whom one can maintain stable social relationship.
When you're deployed, its you protecting your brothers and sisters, and them protecting you. You have a role with responsibilities, you belong, then you get out and you're not as responsible for others, no one cares much for you and youre adrift and largely alone.

Yes I think it wrong when I was union working construction during my apprenticeship I meet another guy who was vet starting talking to him he find out I was disabled for my leg 10% he tell told that he got rated 70% I asked how he got that what wrong how he get that told me he had ptsd but he lied. He said he bullshitted the psychologist. Was Upset he’ll yes I was I started having other problems with my disability tried her higher rating got turn Down, theirs other vets with severe disability and they can’t even get decent rating

Without a doubt, there are those that falsely claim it. When I was in Iraq with part of my unit, I had friends who were in Afghanistan. While on convoy, a couple of the junior members of the team had spotted a burned out vehicle that had been there for a few days. Some of the comments by Bro-ham overheard were, "You see that? I'm gonna tell the VA we had a close call with a VBIED and claim PTSD for it! I'm gonna get PAID!!"

There are - WERE - some veterans groups I was a member of on a popular social media site, and many, MANY questions were about "What can I do to get to that 100% I/U?" "What do I need so I can claim PTSD to up my percentage?", "Can I claim X, Y & Z to get a better percentage for retirement?", or (to me, even worse), people saying things like, "Claim you have E.D. and it's negatively impacting your life, and then find someone to make it secondary to PTSD. . ."

There are those that probably do have legitimate cause for claims. Maybe while not directly involved in combat operations, they survived a near-miss from those explody-thingies that used to randomly drop from the sky. Maybe they were so weak minded, they created their own trauma, like, "People are dying in this country & their bodies are being flown back to this base before going CONUS. . . Death's all around, every day. . .(read this on an article about a USAF vet's suicide, where her friends & co-workers said they were never exposed to anything, didn't face any dangers aside from the God-voice's "INCOMING! INCOMING!", but that she pretty much gave up on life because they 'were surrounded by death')."

And, a case I have experience with, because I was in the same unit as this member, but was one of the ones that went to Iraq back in '04. . . People do make stuff up.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2007/03/new-york-times-plays-the-ptsd-fool-for-iraq-war-fraudster/