When a serviceman or woman experiences post-traumatic stress disorder resulting in ongoing disability, it is not uncommon to go through stages such as the following:
- The affected person, the person's family, doctors and employers may identify problems as self-induced, such as developing drug or alcohol abuse.
- Drug abuse may develop as a consequence of prescription drug use.
- The person may be depressed or suicidal.
- The person may go through inpatient or outpatient psychiatric care.
- The person may have been given some psychiatric label such as bipolar.
- The person may not be able to work at full capacity — or at all.
Are You a Veteran Unable to Work Because of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
When channels of help appear to be exhausted, the disabled service person may turn to a veterans' disability benefits attorney for help — a smart move. At The Law Offices of Paul M. Goodson, P.C., we offer free initial consultations, and when we take a case, we do so on a contingency basis. We will not be paid until and unless past veterans' benefits are paid out.
Upon close examination of a service person's military records, we sometimes discover a key incident that was likely to have caused an undetected traumatic brain injury. Perhaps the person passed out while standing on concrete or was involved in a car accident. Although the person seemed to recover at the time, problems leading to post-traumatic stress disorder may sometimes be traced to such an event.
It is not uncommon for post-traumatic stress disorder to show up after release from military service. As long as we can demonstrate that a disability began within a year after service, there may be a strong case for disability benefits. Sometimes a client is already receiving some benefits, but should be receiving more with a more accurate disability rating designation.
Pursue the Compensation You Need and Deserve
We urge you not to blame yourself for the post-traumatic stress disorder that has kept you from moving on with your life after military service. We are prepared to advise you on the most likely routes to a successful benefit claim or appeal if we believe that you have a strong veterans' disability claim. Even if you are already receiving benefits, you may be entitled to a higher rating. Talk to us about how to get your case re-evaluated — perhaps resulting in an increase in benefit payments. Our goal is to help you recover the full benefits that you deserve.
Call or e-mail the law firm to schedule a no-obligation consultation and preliminary case review with our experienced North Carolina veterans' disability lawyer. Come to our law office location most convenient to you: in Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham or Fayetteville — or let us know if you would like an attorney to come to your location for a consultation.
