If you are a Military Veteran seeking assistance with your disability claim, I may be able to help. Many veterans actually do get approval of their disability claim the first time they apply, but they do not always get the ratings for all of the conditions on their claims approved. Unfortunately, many claims are denied and these denials can be very difficult to fight alone. That is when you need expert help and advice of an attorney to avoid the possibility of your claim being tied up longer than it has to be. An expert attorney can guide the process, offer strategic insights, and comply with the timelines in order to get your claim approved. Even when everything is done spot-on, it can be a long process before you get approved for all that you deserve. Working with professional assistance can help you stay in the game and be assured your claim stays on track.
My Role: As a Licensed Professional Counselor with experience providing nexus letters, evaluations, and DBQs to support veterans claims for functionality and mental health status, I am able to provide evidence for your claim. This is an evaluation, not treatment, and is not covered by insurance, especially Medicare. Medicare is designed solely to provide services for medical diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care. Legal or determinations regarding work capacity are not included in their definition of a covered service and an audit would show this.
VETERANS' DISABILITY CLAIMS
Military Sexual Trauma
Military Sexual Trauma may happen to anyone and victims of MST often do not come forward. When they do, it can be painful to describe what happened to them for the purpose of a disability claim. MST can lead to disabling mental health conditions and victims may file for compensation for these conditions as they relate to the assault or harassment they went through. Denials of claims from the VA can compound the feelings of not being understood or being silenced. If you suspect you have any physical conditions or mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sexual problems, depression, or anxiety, it is important to be evaluated and receive the care and compensation you deserve.
Group Support
In-person group support can help in a number of ways. Being in a confidential setting where you can ask questions, share your feelings about your military experience and how it has affected you, as well as having a safe space to share your feelings about the claims process can be very powerful in providing a space where you can get away and be with other veterans going through similar issues. I have experience with groups and may offer private pay group services. I run this group as a private pay non-therapy, non-clinical support and educational group only therefore no insurance is accepted and this is a special service I may offer through Deep Heart's Core Services (must have at least 6 active group members to run the group).
Claim Denials and Suport
Many veterans receive denials either for their initial disability claim or an increase in their rating which may not be correct. A denial can mean a lot of different things so even when it feels disappointing or even invalidating, you do have recourse through the appeals process. The support of an experienced attorney can be invaluable in getting your claim approved. I have worked with veterans going through this process and have the experience to provide ongoing care and support through a process that is often difficult and frustrating. I am happy to coordinate with your attorney and help provide information they may need.
Building your team to support you throughout your claims process
The claims process can be difficult and sometimes take many years. It is helpful to stay motivated and to work with others who have gone through the claims process. Not all claims are the same and some are approved right away which is a source of frustration for veterans whose claims are denied. The proper support systems with a legal team and professionals can help you through this process. I am happy to provide a DBQ, nexus letter, and professional evaluation to support your claim. I may be able to confirm your current diagnosis, determine other diagnoses and level of disability, and my professional opinion of your social and occupational functional status.
Nominations
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Veterans
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Due to the dangerous job veterans have, they are exposed to chemicals, burn pits, loud noise, and combat. No one can understand what a veteran in combat has gone through unless they have been in that situation (SAFU). PTSD may go unrecognized for years afterward as the veteran moves on, goes to work, and does everything possible to move on not realizing what impact the traumatic experiences have had. These effects can be far reaching and professional help can help manage stress, flashbacks, intense re-experiencing that are the result of the things that happened.
Veterans Counseling & Treatment
Veteran's Counseling services are available and would be covered by your insurance carrier if I am within your network or you are covered by your out of network benefits. I am in-network with a number of insurance plans. When we work together in counseling, you can expect that I will ask questions such as:
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What are the traumatic experience(s) you survived?
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How did these experiences affect you then, afterward, and today?
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How can we make sense of it, how can we put the pieces together?
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What resiliencies did you discover in yourself as you found a way to survive?
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Do you realize that you are not fucked up, but the things that happened were fucked up. Oh, wait a minute, I am not supposed to say that, am I? Time for an audit. Thank you for fighting for my first ammendment rights (though that wasn't exactly what you were thinking about, was it?) Thank you for your Service!
My focus in treatment is not on your specific symptoms. Yes, you may experiences flashbacks, and yes it is important to understand what reminds you of your traumatic experiences, and also it is important to feel you have emotional support and safety. My expectation is that as a result of a genuine therapy, your symptoms will diminish as a result over time and your quality of life will improve. I cannot guarantee what any one person will experience in therapy though my general expectation is that you will improve. For one person, it may be a feeling of greater connectedness, for another it may be a sense of peace, or a better relationship, or a decision to change things in your life.
Quality of Life
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder does not go away. I have heard many veterans express that they wish they could erase the memory of what happened, and then in the same moment realize then they would not be who they are today and do not regret serving for one minute. The VA is constantly doing research and treatments to find some way to "cure" PTSD, understandably, for everyone, but the real work is listening, loving, reconnecting, finding meaning and purpose, and discovering that a better quality of life and relationships is possible.
Sometimes, PTSD is the primary and only diagnosis, but sometimes secondary conditions may develop as well and symptoms are severe enough to warrant a secondary diagnosis.