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Intro

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.^[1]

Because only quick brown foxes jump over lazy dogs.^[1]

PTSD Benefits

Available Benefits and Eligibility Requirements

The US Veterans Administration will pay disability benefits to all Veterans diagnosed with PTSD and provide free health care.^[2] Disability compensation is paid to a Veteran because of injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, or were made worse by active military service. Disability compensation is tax free.^[3]

You may be eligible for disability compensation if you have a service-related disability and you were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.^[3]

The VA also provides free health care and encourages all veterans to seek treatment for PTSD. Treatment can work, and early treatment may help reduce long-term symptoms.^[4] Every VA Medical Center has PTSD specialist who can treat Veterans with PTSD. Veterans can also access any of the VA's 200 specialized PTSD treatment programs after obtaining a referral. VA PTSD treatment programs include a mental health assessment, medicines if necessary, and personal and family counseling.^[5]

Apply for Benefits

The first step to receiving disability compensation or mental health care for PTSD is to be diagnosed with PTSD by a VA or other licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. A Veteran must also extablish, with the licensed professional, that the PTSD is a result of his military service. According to the Veterans Administration, under a new regulation for PTSD claims effective July 13, 2010,

a Veteran will be able to establish the occurrence of an in-service stressor through his or her own testimony, provided that: (1)

the Veteran is diagnosed with PTSD; (2) a VA psychiatrist or psychologist, or a psychiatrist or psychologist with whom VA has :contracted confirms that the claimed stressor is adequate to support a PTSD diagnosis; (3) the Veteran's symptoms are related to :the claimed stressor; and (4) the claimed stressor is consistent with the places, types, and circumstances of the Veteran’s :service and the record provides no clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. This will eliminate the requirement for VA to :search for records, to verify stressor accounts, which is often a very involved and protracted process. As a result, the time :required to adjudicate a PTSD compensation claim in accordance with the law will be significantly reduced.^[6]

To begin the process, talk to your family doctor, or contact your local VA hospital or Vet Center.^[4] Your family doctor or a VA department psychologist or psychiatrist will screen a veteran to verify that the stressful experiences they recall are consistent with their military service and PTSD symptoms, including irritability, flashbacks, deep depression, and other emotional or behavior problems.^[7]

Next, a Veteran can apply for compensation benefits by filling out VA Form 21-526, Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension. Along with the Application, any of the following information may also be submitted:

Discharge or separation papers (DD214 or equivalent)
Dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates)
Medical evidence (doctor & hospital reports)

The application is also available online using the Veterans On-Line Application (VONAPP) System.

Resources for Veterans with PTSD

Where to get help for PTSD

Understanding PTSD - From the US Department of Veterans Affairs

PTSD Treatment Programs in the US Deaprtment of Veterans Affairs

References

^ ^a ^b Stone (2011). "How to edit Wikipedia". Journal of Economics. 1 (1): 1–10. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
^ "Rules change for Vets' PTSD Benefits". PBS Newshour. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
^ ^a ^b US Department of Veterans Affairs. "VA Disability Compensation". Retrieved March 21, 2011.
^ ^a ^b "What can I do if I think I have PTSD?". National Center for PTSD. United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
^ US Department of Veterans Affaris. "PTSD Treatment Programs".
^ Department of Veterans Affairs. "New Regulations for PTSD Claims" (PDF).
^ "VA relaxes application process for benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 March 2011.

[Journal_of_Economics-1] Stone (2011). "How to edit Wikipedia". Journal of Economics. 1 (1): 1–10. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[2] "Rules change for Vets' PTSD Benefits". PBS Newshour. Retrieved 9 March 2011.

[Disability_Compensation-3] US Department of Veterans Affairs. "VA Disability Compensation". Retrieved March 21, 2011.

[What_can_I_do?-4] "What can I do if I think I have PTSD?". National Center for PTSD. United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved 9 March 2011.

[PTSD_Treatment_Programs-5] US Department of Veterans Affaris. "PTSD Treatment Programs".

[6] Department of Veterans Affairs. "New Regulations for PTSD Claims" (PDF).

[7] "VA relaxes application process for benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 March 2011.

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