Many veterans are not receiving the benefits they are entitled to either because they do not know they have a mental health disability, have not been appropriately evaluated, or are not yet service connected for a mental health disability they have already been diagnosed with. It is not uncommon for veterans to experience mental health distress as a result of the experiences they encountered while serving in the military. If your distress is severe enough that you meet criteria for a diagnosis and are having difficulty functioning in your day to day life, you are entitled to receive benefits from the VA. Here are some questions to ask yourself to know whether this may apply to you.
Do you have difficulty maintaining relationships with others?
When your mental health is suffering, particularly if it is untreated, your relationships suffer as well. A veteran whose mental health is having a significant impact may argue frequently with their spouse or may have trouble maintaining a romantic relationship altogether. They may experience challenges with intimacy. Relationships with friends or even with their own children may be strained. These veterans may avoid social situations or feel extremely uncomfortable in these settings.
Has there been a decrease in the quality and/or productivity of your work?
The impact of mental health is not isolated to your personal life. Veterans in mental health distress often feel this impact at work, or if they are students, at school. They may have trouble concentrating, performing their duties appropriately, or meeting deadlines. Their interpersonal challenges may spill over into work if they are avoiding or arguing with coworkers.
Are you displaying behaviors that are out of the ordinary for you compared to before you entered service?
Many veterans notice that they have difficulty controlling their anger, act more impulsively, and are more hypervigilant than they were prior to their time in the military. Others may lack consistent sleep or have memory problems. Regardless of what the manifestation of their mental health concerns are, they don’t feel like themselves and can name specific, observable behaviors that demonstrate this.
What should you do to receive benefits for a mental health disability?
If the life challenges described above ring true for you and you experience mental health symptoms such as depressed mood, feeling worried or on edge, panic attacks, or symptoms in response to a traumatic event (e.g., nightmares, flashbacks, avoiding thinking or talking about the trauma, emotional numbness, reckless behavior, feeling shame or guilt), you may be eligible to be service connected for a mental health disability. The key for service connection is that these challenges and symptoms developed after or as a result of service. To pursue service connection and maximize your chances of getting an accurate rating from the VA, a great first step is a mental health assessment. The assessment will determine whether you meet criteria for a mental health diagnosis and will provide the evidence you need to submit to the VA in support of your claim. Here at VMHA, our psychologists specialize in conducting these assessments for veterans. Sign up for a free consultation, and we will help you determine if a mental health assessment is appropriate for you. If it is, we’ll connect you with one of our psychologists.
