Note:

This edition (06/29/2008) reflects changes in VA policy on PTSD claims.  The main difference is that vets with combat credentials should file VA Form 21-526 as soon as you become a vet, and let the VA set you up with an interview with a psychology professional. See your Vet Center or VA clinic at the same time for treatment. This way, the claim and the treatment happen concurrently, but you do not need to depend on the Vet Center for your diagnosis of PTSD. Just talk with these good people and get the help you need.

Show up at a Vet Center or a VA Hospital, bring copy 4 of your DD214, the copy with the character of your discharge, hopefully Honorable. (If it's other than Honorable, follow this procedure, anyway.) Tell the admissions clerk you need to talk with someone about your PTSD symptoms.  The Vet Center or clinic will set you up with a counselor, maybe after an orientation meeting, and maybe with groups of other veterans.

DO NOT be put off by some cockamaymie diagnosis of "personality disorder" you may have been given by a military doctor. Post-traumatic stress disorder means exactly what it says - it is found AFTER the fact, after you've come from combat or have come home. The VA will see through this bogus diagnosis from those who wanted to get rid of you after they have used your service.  

Disabilities reported with a year of your discharge from the military can be considered service-connected, even if you were not diagnosed in the military with that specific problem.  IF you were in Iraq or Afghanistan in a combat MOS and were awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Ribbon (Marine Corps and Navy), a Bronze Star, Air Medal or Commendation Medal with the "V" device  or Silver Star, or got the Purple Heart you have what the VA considers to be combat credentials. You may have gotten the Combat Action Badge or Ribbon from actions you were in, even if you don't hold a combat MOS. If any of these applies, the VA wants you to get VA Form 21-526 on line (www.VA.gov) or from a local vet rep, put a copy of Copy 4 of your DD214 with it and send it yourself or through a vet rep to the nearest VA Regional office. The injury/illness you are claiming in Part B should be worded "post-traumatic stress disorder". Include also in the list in part B any other injuries or illness treated during military service.

If, as a combat vet, it's been over a year since you were discharged from active duty, or if the year is coming up, get to a VA, state or local vet rep and file an Informal Claim to hold the date of your claim. If you file your 21-526 well within the year after you were discharged, you won't need to do an Informal Claim.  

If you are NOT a combat vet by the criteria listed above, but you have what seem to be the symptoms of PTSD, get to your local veterans assistance (state, local, VA) and tell them to file an informal claim for PTSD.  What this informal claim process does is nail down the date of your claim. Establishing the date within a year of your discharge will set the date of your claim at the day after your discharge date. If can't get to an office, or (unlikely) they won't file an informal claim for you, do it yourself. Address a statement to your state VA Regional Office, send along a COPY of copy 4 of your 214, and tell 'em you are claiming PTSD. The Informal Claim process is critical for non-combat vets because you are going to need more time to put your claim together. Without combat credentials, you don't get the shortcut route with your claims processing. Your initial diagnosis will come from your Vet Center or VA Clinic.  If you're past the year after your discharge, do this claims process the same way, using either the combat vet or the alternative route. The date of claim, however, will be the date of your informal claim.

At the Vet Center or VA clinic, be straight with these people. They are there to help you, not to screw you out of what you are due. Some excellent counselors are women, so don't be reluctant, as one guy was, to "tell this shit to some lady". Lay it on 'em. What you want from that health care professional is help with your symtoms and some tools and strategies for dealing with them. Ask these good people to put you in touch with a VA, state or county vet rep to assist you in filing your claim.  Non-combat vets will need to do VA Form 21-0781, (VA Form 21-0781a if you suffered a personal assault, such as a rape). This gives you the oportunity to be as specific as possible about what happened, when and where it happened, and, in the case of wounded or KIA, to whom did it happen. Your counselor or therapist will help you to do this. It is difficult to talk about these things. I am sorry that you have to be put through this.

Suppose you don't get to see a VA clinician; supppose, in a worst case situation, the waiting list is too long? Get to a private or public local mental health clinic or doctor. His/her diagnosis carries just as much weight as does that of any VA doctor. The important thing is that it is medical/mental health evidence. Use the records from that treatment to form the basis of your formal claim, with VA Form 21-526. If your first year as a vet is past, or coming up soon, file an Informal Claim for PTSD.

If you're working this alone, without a vet services rep, send the 21-526, a COPY of copy 4 of your DD214 and the diagnosis of PTSD to the VA Regional Office in your state. If you aren't a combat vet, include VA Form 21-0781 as well. Get the VA Regional Office address from www.va.gov.  

How are claims for PTSD decided? Claims from combat vets have more credibility. If it's not that clear cut, they will try to verify the incident(s) you gave them on your "stressor statement" (VA Form 21-0781).

These pieces of evidence, along with the clinical diagnosis of PTSD, should get you service-connected. This means assigning a % rating, reflecting the degree to which the VA thinks it limits your ability to find and hold gainful employment, a monthly check, higher priority for VA treatment, even for conditions other than PTSD, and, if rated 30% or more, a crack at a better education deal, Vocational Rehabilitation.

Once you are rated as service-connected, you can apply for an increased rating if you and your clinician(s) think the condition has become worse.

IN SUMMARY:

Combat vets need to file a claim quickly on 21-526 for post traumatic stress disorder. Find a local vet rep to assist you with this claims process. AT THE SAME TIME, get the treatment and counseling from your Vet Center, VA clinic or private therapist. If it has been over a year since you were discharged, or if it's getting close, file an Informal Claim first.

If you do not have a tin badge verifying combat, but you had some bad stuff go down, get to your Vet Center or clinic, but do your Informal Claim for PTSD to buy yourself the time you need to put the rest of your claim together. Like the combat vet, go the Vet Center/clinic route AT THE SAME TIME.  Normally, your local vet rep will help you to do your informal claim and your 21-526.