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If you’re a veteran dealing with PTSD, debilitating depression, or persistent anxiety, you’re fighting battles the civilian world can’t imagine. But when it comes to filing a VA mental health claim, many veterans hit a wall. They stop, they hesitate, or they decide the fight isn’t worth it. At VMHA, we know why you hold back. We hear the same ten reasons every single day. We understand those roadblocks, but we are here to tell you that every reason not to file is a myth that keeps you from the benefits you earned. Here is the truth behind the top 10 reasons veterans don’t file their mental health claims—and the counter-reasons that taking action now is the smartest move you can make for your future.
The Reason Not to File: You were trained to be strong, self-reliant, and mission-ready. Filing a claim for PTSD or depression feels like admitting failure or weakness. You fear judgment from your peers, your family, or yourself.
Why You Should File: Filing is a sign of strength and self-respect. Getting professional help and securing your benefits is the final act of mission success: ensuring the health and stability of the veteran. Your mental health challenge is not a weakness; it is an injury sustained in the line of duty, just like a broken bone. By filing, you are stabilizing your life, which allows you to be a stronger partner, parent, and community member.
The Reason Not to File: You see veterans who have lost limbs or have more visible, severe problems. You believe your anxiety or depression isn’t severe enough, and you don’t want to “take” money from a veteran who is “worse off.”
Why You Should File: The VA budget is not a zero-sum game. The money allocated for disability compensation is set by Congress, and your benefit money is reserved for you because of your service. Your filing has zero impact on another veteran’s claim or payout. If your mental health is affecting your ability to work, maintain relationships, or sleep, you do qualify. Every eligible veteran has a right to file, and waiting only hurts you and your family.
The Reason Not to File: You never went to sick call for your stress or feelings of depression because you feared losing your clearance or being labeled a liability. Now, years later, you have no paper trail to prove your condition started in the military.
Why You Should File: Your current struggles and your friends’ and family members’ words are powerful evidence. The VA accepts lay evidence—statements from you and your military “buddies” or family members. A strong claim for PTSD or anxiety is often won with a Nexus Letter from an expert psychologist who can connect your current symptoms back to the documented stressors of your service, even without immediate military records. You do not need to have been diagnosed on active duty to win.
The Reason Not to File: You look at the VA forms, the long medical reports, and the confusing rules, and you give up before you even start. The process feels so difficult and bureaucratic that you assume it’s designed to make you fail.
Why You Should File: Expert help simplifies the process. You don’t have to navigate the system alone. Organizations like VMHA specialize in the most difficult part of the claim: the medical evidence. We provide the Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) that translates your complex medical history into the exact, VA-aligned document needed for approval. By outsourcing the hardest part to experts, you save time, stress, and dramatically increase your chance of success.
The Reason Not to File: You filed a claim years ago and were denied. The rejection felt personal, and you don’t want to go through that painful process again. You believe the VA has made its final decision.
Why You Should File: Most denials are overturned with the right medical evidence. The VA often denies initial claims because of missing proof, not because your condition isn’t service-connected. A denial is a roadmap telling you exactly what proof is missing. If you refile with a new, strong Nexus Letter and detailed medical evidence, you provide the VA with the missing link they need to approve your claim. A denial is a delay, not the end.
The Reason Not to File: You have private issues—whether it’s substance use, relationship problems, or a history of trauma—and you worry that sharing your deepest struggles will be exposed or used against you.
Why You Should File: Your medical information is protected, and honesty leads to the best care. The claims process is confidential. Furthermore, your current symptoms and their full severity are what the VA rates. If you hide problems related to anxiety or depression, you are only hurting your claim. An honest, detailed report allows the expert to accurately link your full spectrum of symptoms to your service, which is required for an accurate rating.
The Reason Not to File: You’ve heard horror stories about rushed, 15-minute C&P exams where the doctor minimizes PTSD or anxiety symptoms, leading to a low rating or a denial. You don’t trust the VA’s examiner to get it right.
Why You Should File: A thorough IMO provides proof that can trump a C&P exam. You don’t have to rely solely on the C&P exam. By submitting an Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) from a private expert, you provide the VA with a comprehensive, evidence-based counter-argument. An IMO is often more detailed and persuasive than a rushed C&P exam, giving the VA rater a clinical reason to favor your evidence and give you the correct rating.
The Reason Not to File: You know you need a private evaluation, but you are out of work or on a tight budget, and you believe the cost of a specialist assessment is too high.
Why You Should File: Filing protects your future, and financial help is available. The potential lifetime value of a successful VA claim is massive. It provides stability, healthcare access, and compensation. Furthermore, programs like our Mental Health Assessment Fund (in partnership with the Purple Heart Foundation) exist specifically to provide free, top-tier assessments to veterans in financial need. Help is available to remove the cost barrier.
The Reason Not to File: You worry that filing a claim for depression or a high VA disability rating will impact your current job, lead to discrimination, or prevent you from getting a future job.
Why You Should File: Your VA rating is private and legally protected. Under federal law, employers generally cannot ask about your disability status unless it affects your ability to perform the job’s essential functions. Filing a VA mental health claim does not automatically notify your employer. Moreover, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and anti-discrimination laws protect disabled veterans from workplace bias. Secure your rating; it’s a source of stability, not a threat to your career.
The Reason Not to File: Your service was during the Vietnam era or Desert Storm, and your PTSD or anxiety symptoms didn’t get severe until years later. You assume the statute of limitations has run out.
Why You Should File: Mental health conditions do not have a time limit. The VA recognizes that conditions like PTSD and depression can have a delayed onset. The key is to prove the continuity of symptoms and connect your current diagnosis back to the original stressor. An expert provider can review your entire medical history and write a credible nexus letter that bridges the time gap, securing your benefits, regardless of when you served.
The very first step you should take is to file your Intent to File with the VA. You can do this online through the VA website. This action is critical because it immediately locks in your effective date for potential back pay. Even if you don’t have all your medical records ready, filing your Intent to File protects your future benefits and gives you up to one year to gather all your evidence, including your diagnosis and Nexus Letter. Don’t wait—file your Intent to File today.
No. The VA assigns one combined rating for all of your mental health conditions. If you have been diagnosed with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, the VA will look at all the symptoms from all three diagnoses and assess the total impact on your ability to function. They will then give you a single percentage. This means you must make sure your evidence documents the full severity of all your symptoms to achieve the highest possible rating.
If you were not in combat, proving a stressor for your PTSD or anxiety can be difficult. The VA will look for evidence that supports the stressful event. This is where buddy statements are vital. Get written statements from those you served with who witnessed the event or witnessed the change in your behavior afterward. For Military Sexual Trauma (MST) claims, the VA looks for “markers” of trauma in your records, such as transfers, substance abuse, or sudden behavioral changes.
An IMO is a comprehensive evaluation from a private, licensed psychologist that serves as your medical evidence. It includes a formal diagnosis, a detailed assessment of your symptoms, and a clear, evidence-based Nexus Letter. An IMO is superior to relying on a VA C&P exam because it is thorough, objective, and meticulously written to meet VA standards. VMHA specializes in providing these top-tier IMOs, giving you the expert evidence that ensures your VA mental health claim is approved.
Secure Your IMO Today to ensure your claim is based on the strongest medical evidence possible.
Contact us today to learn how our Independent Medical Opinions can help you secure the benefits you deserve.
Email us at info@vmhaforvets.com or call us at 214-307-2198.
You may also be interested in:
VA Mental Health Claim Denied? Here’s What You Need to Know
Anxiety VA Rating: Your Guide to a Successful Claim
Depression VA Rating: How to Get the Benefits You Deserve
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