Veterans Psychiatrists in Atlanta, GA
It is frequently difficult for military veterans to demonstrate to the VA that their PTSD is service-related. By outlining the broad standards for demonstrating a claim for PTSD to the VA, we hope that more veterans will be able to get compensation for what can be a very debilitating disease.
Obviously, the soldier must be suffering from PTSD. As a result, the Veteran must first produce medical evidence of this diagnosis. If you believe that a VA doctor has misdiagnosed you, you can always seek examination by a private psychiatrist or psychologist.
The veteran must then demonstrate that the PTSD trigger, or stressor, occurred during duty. This is known as the "in-service stressor," and there are two sets of regulations that apply to veterans who suffer a combat stressor vs veteran who experience a non-combat stressor. The evidence must be credible - something or someone to back up the in-service stressor is always beneficial.
Finally, you must demonstrate the link between the diagnosed PTSD and the "in-service stressor." This is frequently the most difficult of the three to demonstrate. Typically, documentation from a lay or medical expert stating that the in-service stressor was a "contributing factor" to the PTSD symptoms should be sufficient to secure service-connection for the PTSD link.
If you are a US Veteran headed to Iraq or Afghanistan, you should expect to return from your duty with PTSD. I strongly advise you to have a "baseline test" for PTSD performed by an impartial psychologist or psychiatrist before travelling overseas. Do not administer this test to the military or utilise Veterans Psychiatrists in Atlanta, GA. Keep the report at home with your critical paperwork, and if you are diagnosed with PTSD when you return, you should be able to demonstrate convincingly that the PTSD was caused by military duty.