how do i get ptsd treatment va

How do you get a VA diagnosis for PTSD?

A psychiatrist at the VA medical center must provide a diagnosis of PTSD in order for a veteran to be able to obtain disability benefits for PTSD. The veteran must also apply for disability benefits, which can be done online at the Veterans Online Application website (VONAPP) at www.ebenefits.va.gov.

What does the VA look for with PTSD?

When assigning a 10 percent PTSD rating, VA will look for the following: “Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.”

How do I file PTSD with the VA?

To get disability compensation, veterans should submit a PTSD claim with VA. First, veterans can download and fill out VA Form 21-526EZ. This can be submitted via mail to the Claims Intake Center, in person at the closest VA Regional Office, or electronically through VA's website.

How much does it cost to treat a veteran with PTSD?

Those results exclude about 500 patients with severe multiple injuries that received treatment in VHA's polytrauma centers; costs for those patients were significantly higher....Average Costs for First Year of TreatmentWith PTSD and TBI$13,800Recent Veterans with Neither Condition$2,4004 more rows•Feb 9, 2012

Is PTSD an automatic 50 percent?

It is possible to get a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD, but there is no automatic rating for any condition, and no automatic disability rating that applies to all veterans. Veterans with PTSD can receive a rating as low as zero percent for the condition.

How do I get a 70% PTSD rating?

Per VA's rating criteria, a 70% PTSD rating reflects that you display impairment in most areas such as, work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. 70% PTSD rating lists several symptoms that affect occupational and social function.

How hard is it to claim PTSD with the VA?

The max rating is 100%, but this is hard to get. A lot of veterans end up with a 70% rating and unemployability because they cannot work. The VA will use a C&P exam to help them determine what the appropriate rating is. A veteran should review the PTSD rating criteria that VA uses.

How long does a VA PTSD claim take?

about 3 to 4 monthsEach claim is different, but it usually takes us about 3 to 4 months to process a claim from start to finish. The processing time for your claim depends on how complex your claim is and how many conditions you've claimed.

When should I apply for PTSD disability?

PTSD can be considered a disability by the SSA if the criteria for Listings 12.15 or 112.15 Trauma- and stressor-related disorders are met by the applicant. If your symptoms of PTSD are so severe that you are unable to work, the SSA will consider you disabled and you will be able to get disability with PTSD.

Why do some veterans not seek help for PTSD?

Many veterans don't receive treatment at all, because of the stigma around seeking mental health care. More than 63% of returning veterans say they would not seek the help of mental health professionals as they believe it may affect their military or civilian careers.

How much does PTSD cost the United States?

Veterans Affairs Research Communications. "Study: Economic burden of PTSD 'staggering': U.S. civilian, military populations combine for more than $230 billion in annual costs." ScienceDaily.

How much does the military spend on mental health?

The US armed forces spends approximately $792.8 million per year on mental health treatment. This includes programs for resiliency training, PTSD, optimism training, substance abuse, and more. Of the data available, PSTD care seems to get the most funding at approximately $294 million spent per year.