The numbers have been shocking. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said 11 to 20 percent of veterans were affected by post-traumatic stress disorder during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The number was estimated at 12 percent during the Gulf War and 15 percent during Vietnam. While veterans benefits are available through the VA, many still have to live with the horrors of war on an everyday basis.
The Huffington Post quotes Sandro Galea, who said we may be on the “cusp of a wave of PTSD,” meaning VA and Congress may not be prepared for the amount of troops who are mentally scarred by war. The website spoke with Akshay Nanavati, a six-year marine corps veteran who said he struggles with PTSD every day.
Coming home, he said life seemed very unstructured and meaningless. He also experienced guilt over not dying and had to learn how to reconnect with people.
Thousands of veterans suffer from PTSD and are entitled to veterans benefits and mental health treatment. PTSD can come in many different forms; it is important to be properly diagnosed to get the best possible treatment for the disease.
PTSD is the great silent killer of our veterans. It’s a fact that veteran suicides are on the rise and many more of those returning home are mentally disabled from their wartime experiences. Although the VA is attempting to treat the Veterans who are suffering from PTSD, their efforts often fail due to lack of an appropriate number of medical providers or Veteran non compliance with established VA treatment protocols.
It is important for Veterans to seek medical treatment as soon as PTSD symptoms become apparent. The Law Offices of Harold W. Conick and Associates are knowledgeable and zealous advocates in proving PTSD claims and winning benefits.
