Veterans who suffer from psychological disorders are potentially able to qualify for disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Even if their psychological issues did not begin with their service, they may be eligible for disability benefits if their condition worsened as a result of their experiences serving in the military. Here are seven psychological disorders that may qualify you for veterans disability benefits:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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- Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a psychological condition caused by suffering or witnessing events that involve significant pain, suffering, or danger to a person’s life. Veterans suffer from PTSD at a significantly higher rate than the average population, due to their higher risk of being involved in violent and life-threatening situations.
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- Depression
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- Depression refers to a condition where people suffer from an abnormally low mood, often experiencing sadness or loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities. While people may suffer from depression even without military service, it can emerge or worsen due to experiencing traumatic events while in the military.
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- Bipolar disorder
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- Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mood disorder that causes someone to switch between extreme high and extreme low moods, typically over the course of weeks or months. People with a tendency towards bipolar disorder may find themselves having a harder time regulating their mood after their service, due to their experiences in the military.
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- Anxiety disorders
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- Anxiety disorders refer to a variety of psychological issues that cause someone to become irrationally stressed, even without a good reason to be stressed. These include generalized anxiety, which has no specific source, as well as irrational phobias towards specific things or places.
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- Schizophrenia
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- Schizophrenia is a psychological condition that causes someone to experience hallucinations, delusions, and increased difficulty with thinking, communicating or expressing emotion. This, along with other psychotic disorders, can all be triggered or worsened due to military service.
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- Psychosomatic disorders
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- Psychosomatic or somatoform disorders are feelings of physical pain or dysfunction that are caused by underlying psychological problems. These disorders are surprisingly common among veterans, who may suffer from physical pain despite a lack of injury or illness to explain it.
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- Substance abuse
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- Veterans suffer from much higher rates of substance abuse than the average citizen, often struggling with addiction to alcohol or drugs. This type of addiction may help you qualify for benefits if the reason for your addiction is tied to some other issue (including other psychological issues) related to your service.
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.
