VA Disability PTSD Facts

BONUS-FOR THE VETERAN OF THE VETERAN SHARE OF THE DAY

In this blog, we will discuss PTSD facts; including what PTSD is, its diagnosis, risk factors, treatment, stats, and everything else you need to know. The American Psychiatric Associations (APA) defines PTSD as “the psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war or combat, rape, or other violent, personal attack.”

The definition is vital for our purpose down the road as we consider a VA disability claim. In World War I, this was commonly referred to as “shell shock,” and in World War II, it was known as “combat fatigue.” The VA didn’t officially recognize PTSD until it was added to the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Now consider this, many of us have lived with PTSD without even knowing it. And for many, you eventually come to the realization that you either have PTSD due to life/symptoms/family/reality hitting you hard, or you end up having to go speak with someone, as I did after realizing you can’t ignore it away, only to hear “you have PTSD.” My response was, “are you sure about that?”, but alas…I had it, and I sank deeper into my personal invisible mental abyss.