Why You Might be Eligible for a PTSD Lawyer

It’s been a long journey to recognize the health struggles of service members and veterans — and while it’s not over yet, progress has been made, particularly in the recognition of mental health issues.

Unfortunately, not everyone knows about these benefits, and they can appear confusing to the layperson.

As an added worry, the bureaucracy of the Veteran Affairs Office means that it can sometimes be harder than it should be to get the benefits that you need. If you’re unsure about what benefits you’re eligible for your PTSD or under what conditions you should get professional legal help, here’s what you need to know.

A Denial of PTSD Claims

It’s not unheard of for the VA Office to discount those with PTSD claims due to suggestions of improper evidence or disputes as to whether or not the PTSD was developed as a result of one’s service.

A Lower Payment Than You Deserve

It’s possible that the claim amount the VA initially assigns you won’t cover the expenses of your disability. Disability payments are rated in percentiles that range from fully abled to fully disabled. Measured at thresholds of 10, these numbers can significantly affect your threshold, and sometimes a very small change on the part of the VA can affect your payments dramatically.

Improper Effective Date

The VAO doesn’t always get the effective start dates for disability claims right, and that can have a dramatic effect on your life if you have to end up waiting for your claims to pay out longer than is reasonable. A properly trained and experienced attorney can dramatically speed up that process and make sure that you don’t miss out on any money due to the change.

The Complications of Proving PTSD

While PTSD is getting more recognition as a serious condition that requires treatment, the process of getting all the necessary requirements to prove your PTSD can be confusing. Similarly, how effectively you make your case for PTSD can dramatically impact your disability rating and your payments. But if you understand the basic process, you can navigate the process much more easily.

There are three things you, or your lawyer, need to demonstrate: the presence of PTSD, a stress factor that occurred while in-service, and a plausible correlation between those two factors. Consistency of your story is important here, as is having a diagnosis of PTSD provided by a credible mental health authority.

While the basics may be simple, the fact is that you’re still making a case for yourself, and the results can have a dramatic impact on your life. An attorney can help you get the entirety of your circumstances in one place, organize and frame their impact on your life, and create a credible case for your PTSD claim.

The Chance For an Appeal

Just because you’ve already started the claim process or you’ve already applied and been denied doesn’t mean that you’re at the end of your rope. The next step is to appeal the decision. This can be a significantly more laborious process, and that’s why it’s especially critical to consider getting the help of an attorney experienced with assisting veterans.

There are multiple levels of appeal you can go through, but many disputes over VA claims don’t reach a happy resolution until PTSD lawyers get involved. It’s worth your time to keep the option in your mind even if you’re still in the early stages of filing your claims. You deserve every cent of compensation for your service to the country, and there are attorneys qualified to help you get it.

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