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No More Silent Suffering While many assume the wounds of war are visible, veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are reporting an illness that is difficult to diagnose and even tougher to treat: post-traumatic stress disorder. Of the more than two million troops who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, it is estimated that one in five return with PTSD. Meanwhile, only 78,000 of the 150,000 troops diagnosed with PTSD have been awarded disability claims. The stark contrast among incidents of PTSD and approved claims has spurred the Department of Veterans Affairs to relax requirements for PTSD benefits. Whereas soldiers once had to pinpoint a specific incident that led to their condition, sufferers now need only prove that they served in a war zone. The relaxed requirements represent a second chance for many soldiers to claim the benefits they deserve. Countless veterans who had their PTSD claims rejected for lack of supporting documentation are now able to reapply, along with the thousands of others too intimidated by bureaucratic roadblocks to ever seek benefits. The eased regulations also apply to all veterans, including those who served in Vietnam. For soldiers seeking PTSD benefits, especially those previously denied, the attorneys of Weitz Garfinkle Datz can help navigate the claims process. We are members of the National Organization of Veterans Advocates, and our attorneys are accredited to prepare, present and prosecute claims for veterans’ benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs. We are committed to supporting the men and women who defend our country by winning them the benefits they deserve. Please visit our Web site at www.protectourveterans.com or contact us at (215) 545-9300 to learn more about how we can help. |
