Psychiatric Disability: The Problem Faced by Veterans

Veterans with psychiatric disabilities face the daunting task of applying for both help for their problem and benefits to enable them to take care of themselves and their families. Because of the stigma that still surrounds mental health in this country, it’s often hard for a veteran to even admit he has a problem, let alone apply for benefits because of it. Imagine being forced to prove that you’re chronically depressed, or that you have a debilitating anxiety disorder so you can get the benefits you desperately need to enable you to continue to provide for your family.

This is a problem too many veterans are facing, and as statistics sadly show, many of them end up in despair and decide to end their lives instead of being forced to prove the severity of their illness. According to Vets National, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that 1 in 10 veterans face mental issues after combat. These veterans are must see a military psychiatrist for a diagnosis and a rating for their disability. If the doctor finds that their problem is causing total social and occupational impairment, they are given a 100% rating, entitling them to full disability compensation. Problems arise when the doctor assigns a rating that is too low. (Ratings below 100% range from 0% to 70%.) Because of a misdiagnosis, perhaps caused by a fear of fully exposing their struggles, the veteran will receive a lower rating and be thrust into the unfortunate position of being unable to work or function normally in society, and unable to provide for his family, which only causes more mental anguish.

If you’re a veteran in this difficult situation, you can turn to the Veterans Law Group for help. We consider it our duty to help veterans win maximum benefits for their total disability claim, whether it’s for physical or mental impairments. Contact us today for more information about how we can help.