Saturday, April 7, 2007
Our Returning Iraq War Veterans by D Mann
Many wounded returning Iraq War Veterans are not being advised well about filing
their VA claims for benefits. Most of the time, the only assistance the veteran
receives is one printed sheet that they get during the discharge process that
tells them to get on the VA website and to file their claim electronically. If
an Iraq veteran has been wounded with a permanently disabling injury, the
veteran needs to file a claim.
Unfortunately, returning vets with PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) are
often mentally unable to complete the forms needed to file a claim. Their stress
levels leave them unable to concentrate on the task of completing the forms,
gathering documents needed, and stating the cause of their PTSD. Simply writing
down the events frequently leaves them so stressed and anxious that they are
unable to function on a daily basis. Ironically, these veterans need help with
their PTSD as soon as possible.
Vietnam veterans fought the VA to be acknowledged as disabled with PTSD. PTSD is
nothing new. In wars past, it was called “shell-shock” (World War I) and “combat
fatigue” or a “nervous condition” (World War II).
Gulf War veterans, too, have “undiagnosed” problems with aches and pains and odd
symptoms that doctors are unable to put their finger on to treat. These
veterans, too, need to file VA claims. Their problems are caused by exposure to
harmful chemicals and gases that were used by both sides fighting in the Gulf.
Returning Iraq War veterans that have permanent injuries, burns, scars or other
problems from combat are advised to file VA claims. Scars, especially on the
face, are considered “disfiguring” and are worthy of a disability rating by the
VA.
Even if a disability is rated at zero-percent disabling by the VA, it is
important for these young veterans to have the disability acknowledged by the
VA. As a person ages, disabilities that seem very tolerable at 25 years of age
become arthritic and painful to a person at 50 years of age. The disability can
be re-rated at a later date and it is much easier to have a disability re-rated
at a higher rating than to try to establish the disabilty 30 years after
discharge.
Deborah Mann and her husband, Richard, have helped many veterans with their
disability claims for over ten years. The Manns have helped veterans get claims
as far back as 1955 and are masters at dealing with the Veterans Administration.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D_Mannhttp://EzineArticles.com/?Our-Returning-I
raq-War-Veterans&id=507282
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information for research and educational purposes. Reference:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
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