Falsely claiming PTSD for VA benefits?

On the topic of PTS, it is not always combat related. In fact, PTS is far more common than most realize. It can present itself from ANY traumatic situation that one may endure. Case in point, I grew up as a USAF dependent before I enlisted. Four times during those years, my siblings and I witnessed military plane crashes; one in a civilian housing developement. One time, I witnessed a military member commit suicide. After I enlisted (I was in during the Cold War), I witnessed another plane crash where I actually knew who was flying the fighter jet and sadly, he died.

I have PTS. Do you think that I attribute it to those things I saw back then? I personally do not think so. I worked 17 years in surgery; 9 of those years in trauma surgery. I have seen all kinds of mutilations and destructions to the human body and to work with a team at breakneck speed to try to help save lives. I have seen everything from stabbings to MVAs to gunshots and arrow/ crossbow bolt wounds, farm accident and accidental amputations. It wears on a person and before long, one developes triggers. I now live in a low income community saturated with crime, drugs and shootings. I cannot afford to move. Each time I hear gunfire, the triggers kick in along with the need to go look for victims and render aid. I have found two in the past 3 years that I was able to help. One, I could not. And here is the odd thing, I have gotten used to the gunfire. I have never gotten used to the injuries that I have seen in the past or now.

I get why PTS is so difficult to identify and treat. I judge nobody when I hear the acronym. To know what a person went through and what triggers affects them is almost impossible. Hell, I don't even know which of my triggers are going to turn up for me with the exception of the dreams afterwards. I never claimed my PTS on my VA Disability claim. Maybe I could have since about 100 of us airmen walked the flightline picking up debris from the crash that I saw from base ops. But I didn't because I felt my trauma was all of those years working in surgery. I have a great therapist, care team and absolutely fantastic support surrounding me. I am a member of two veteran charities that acticely works to help vets in need; sometimes that need is to help them get into a program.

Now, per the origonal post, can it be faked? Hell yes it can and it is quite a lot. Technology is getting better at identifying it. I had multiple EEGs and MRIs to identify my problem with it. Can everyone claiming it be 100% proven? Not at this time but as I said, technology is getting better.

I myself never asked for PTSD rating. I never wanted to stigma the go along with that rating. But as the government and the psychiatrist and doctors at the VA put that tag on me. I would never use a weapon to hurt anyone, But just saying that I have thought about using a weapon on myself get me to the point.

I recently watched a explanation of 100% ratings and VA ability to reduce them. I know the fraud is off the charts as the diagnostic symptoms are on the internet and easily faked if the psychiatrist isn't aware of what trauma is. It isn't emotional as this case seems to appear. A continuous alerting to the environment or being on guard all the time is a physical reaction of the body releasing adrenaline to survive. Bright light, noise coming from all directions in public, words that were used in the environment that was a threat. The mind is searching for the threat even when there is none. i.e. gun fire, listening for any movement if someone is sneaking up on you or you on them. For me, cardiac monitors, overhead announcing (code blue), listening for someone crying out in pain and anything else critical that was my responsibility to handle. Interviewing someone definitely needs proof of what the trauma was and still is. I attended a large support group of veterans where the instructor was teaching them how to get their 100%! I had it stopped and the instructor was fired. I believe the VA is catching up to the rest of the world about trauma but still isn't educated enough to deal with it appropriately. If I hear learning coping skills will make you all better, I'll scream! So many different treatment options with reduced medicating and to stop calling it a mental disorder. It's a syndrome with a series of events leading up to the alerting response. Fakes would not stand up to appropriate clinical observation. Hooking a person up to a heart/ respiration/BP monitor and asking questions would show the physical response. Anyway, I think the ratings are being reviewed and service connection criteria modified for more accuracy, to ensure the medical help is given to those that have earned it.

PTSD is like a back ache, it’s hard to prove if a person has it or not. I will say this, if a person is making a false claim, then he or she is cheating veterans such as myself. I’ve done 10 combat tours, I didn’t recognize I had PTSD until someone pointed out my actions to me. If someone is going through life without, think of all the veterans that are dealing with substance abuse and other issues that may affect day to day life. Those are the ones you cheat

A VA psychologist should know his history and be able to verify it.
He probably did not join fraudulently. But the PTSD claim probably is.

You need educating on PTSD period.

And this is why we still have #22aday.

Look………. Let the VA handle this stuff. It’s not your business to be the VA’s Disability police. Unless they hired you to do it.

I would agree that it is fishy that someone who never saw any combat is receiving 100% disability. But it’s just not my business and it doesn’t affect me if they’re telling the truth or if they are lying.

I’m sure there are people who slip through the cracks and are getting something they don’t deserve…..

Well, I have a son in law who entered the military with mental problems and alcoholism, depression, bipolar and schizophrenia, how he got in I don't have the slightest idea, arrested by MPs a few times for drunk and disorderly as well as spouse abuse. Served 15 years, never left stateside, finally separated for being an E4 up to the 15 year mark, upon discharge he was separated 100% due to mental issues, ALL he had prior to enlistment. How does that happen. He even admitted to hearing voices before he enlisted to his VA Psychologist. How does that happen?

Within my first year at Fort Riley, a soldier in my company was discharged and received 100% disability for PTSD. Was it from combat? Nope. This soldier never went into combat. Was it rather from pre-service or a conflict during service outside of combat? Maybe. Is it any of my business? Nope.

PTSD means something. For me, holding and watching a Marine friend die while I was unable to help him in Nam. It means seeing many people die on both sides and later understanding that it was all a wasted effort. Now, I wonder why I killed and why I buried friends and have other friends maimed for life. PTSD is about women raped and the horror they will live with forever. PTSD is the child that saw a veteran commit suicide because they cannot live with their inter-demons. PTSD is many things for many people. None of us are able to judge others and their feelings.