Many veterans pursue benefits through the Veterans Disability Compensation Program because of physical injuries that now impact their civilian lives. However, it is just as possible to receive these cash payments when mental health concerns now affect your well-being. It is no secret that serving on active duty can have a negative impact on a person’s mental health. In addition, many veterans who suffer physical injuries find that their emotional state also suffers because of these incidents.
An attorney at Centonzio Law wants to help you receive the benefits that you deserve. This includes pursuing Veterans Disability benefits through first-time applications and working to pursue timely appeals. This especially applies when a veteran needs to prove their VA disability for mental health.
Mental Health Conditions that May Impact a Veteran
Serving in any of the United States’ armed forces places a great stress on a person’s body and mind. Even if a veteran is fortunate enough to avoid any long-term physical injuries, they may find that their mental health is now a pressing concern. Simply taking part in strenuous activities during basic training or while serving in a support role can substantially change a person’s brain chemistry. Additionally, stressors that may occur while serving on the front lines or as the result of an injury can also forever change a person’s mental health.
A variety of mental health concerns impact the lives of veterans. Any of these conditions may serve as the sole basis for a Veterans’ Disability compensation claim or work in tandem with physical injuries. These conditions may include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Military sexual trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries
Because these mental health concerns can have a substantial impact on a veteran’s civilian life, they may be justification for a successful claim for benefits.
Using a Mental Health Diagnosis to Receive Fair Benefits
There are three components to any successful Veterans Disability Compensation Benefits claim. The first is that a veteran received an honorary discharge from their branch of the military. The second is that the veteran now suffers from a medical condition that impacts their civilian life. As applied to mental health concerns, the veteran must have a valid and current diagnosis from a trained medical professional. This may be a psychiatrist from the VA or any other licensed mental health provider. Ideally, the provider will be able to comment on how the condition both impacts the veteran’s day-to-day life and how that condition has its roots in time spent on active duty.
This plays into the third component: that the disabling condition began while on active duty or that a preexisting condition became worse because of time spent in uniform. For mental health cases, proving this concept can involve pointing to a specific incident that caused trauma or by showing that a preexisting condition is now worse due to time spent on active duty. Speak with the team at Centonzio Law now to learn more about how mental health conditions can serve as the basis for veterans’ disability claims.
An Attorney at Centonzio Law could Help You Prove your VA Disability Claim for Mental Health Concerns
Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or even military sexual trauma are valid reasons to seek out benefits through the Veterans’ Disability Compensation Program. Sadly, many veterans do not understand how to pursue these claims or have received a denial on their applications.
The team at Centonzio Law is here to help prove your VA disability for mental health. They can explain how these claims work and what you need to prove to receive the benefits you deserve. They aim to make the necessary connection between your time on active duty and your mental health concerns. Reach out to them now to learn more about how they are ready to help.