While veterans can be proud of the service they give to their country, it remains undeniable that many veterans are left with permanent physical and psychological injuries due to their experiences in the military. In some cases, these injuries may not make themselves apparent until weeks, months or even years after their service ends. Here are five service-related disabilities that many veterans do not experience until after they have already gone home:
- PTSD
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- Veterans are at a higher risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than almost any other group of people. This psychological disorder comes about when people are exposed to life-threatening situations, such as natural disasters, sexual assault, or violence. Symptoms of the disorder include flashbacks, nightmares, flattened affect, hypersensitivity to certain stimuli, and avoidance of things that remind them of their trauma.
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- Migraines
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- Many veterans suffer from persistent migraines that do not respond to conventional treatment. This can happen for a number of reasons, including exposure to toxic chemicals, traumatic brain injuries, or certain neurological conditions. However, the severity and persistence of these headaches may not become apparent until long after a soldier has left the service.
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- Muscle damage
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- It is extremely common for soldiers to suffer from musculoskeletal injuries during their military service, due to the intense strain they put their bodies under. Even training accidents can leave soldiers with permanent injuries, especially if rehabilitation does not go well afterwards. This can leave people with muscle weakness or limited movement in damaged muscles.
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- Nerve damage
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- It is also common for soldiers to suffer nerve damage, though not always from physical injuries. Exposure to certain chemicals, such as the infamous “Rainbow Agents” used during the Vietnam War, can also result in conditions like sciatica and diabetes developing later on. This, in turn, can result in persistent pain, numbness, or tingling, or loss of function in one or more limbs.
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- Cancer
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- There is a high risk for veterans to be exposed to carcinogenic chemicals during their service, placing them at an increased risk of developing cancer. While this can happen for many reasons, a great deal of attention has been placed on so-called “burn pits,” where a wide variety of waste was disposed of in large burning piles. However, the harm caused by these pits was often not apparent until long after their military service ended.
The attorneys of Sullivan & Kehoe place a special focus on assisting disabled veterans. Our veterans’ disability lawyers are still available for remote consultation on your legal issues. Call our office at (800) 395-7830 to schedule a consultation in our New York City, Garden City, Kings Park, Riverhead, or White Plains office, or visit our contact page.
