In a claim for service connection, the ultimate credibility or weight to be accorded evidence must be determined as a question of fact. 1, Section D, Topic 17, Block a. If you can adapt, you can survive. Find handouts, apps, videos, and courses based on current research. you viewed to avoid repetition. We have helped hundreds of families, just like yours, and we know we can help you feel confident in your ultimate decision. It is possible that if you were diagnosed with autism as a child you may still have the ability to overcome the condition and receive a waiver. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Rob V. is the founder of OperationMilitaryKids.org. Additionally, any history of suicidal behavior that includes gestures or discussions about the thought is disqualifying. The military will study things like when you were diagnosed, current symptoms, if you take medication for your depression, and if youve received inpatient/outpatient care in the last year. 38 C.F.R. 49 (1990). 1. 3.304(f)(5) (2012); Menegassi v. Shinseki, 638 F.3d 1379 (Fed. I didn't bother trying to get medical care because the drill instructors did not care for physical health issues (I distinctly recall a time when a drill instructor yelled "I don't give a fuck" when someone needed medical attention for an allergic reaction). Serving in the military with mental illness has always been a delicate issue, considering soldiers carry weapons and could put other lives in jeopardy. They didn't give you a straw? edX, part of 2U Inc., works with respected universities and organizations to deliver innovative, skills-based training to a community of over 45 million learners around the world to support them at every stage of their lives and careers. PTSD involves a wide range of symptoms, many of which can potentially be impairing or disabling. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) disqualifies you from military service in most cases. It was noted that prior to military service, the Veteran graduated from high school, with his worst grades in English. Verywell / Evan Polenghi. I found this out after looking around online after I was discharged to see if anyone that graduated or didn't graduate had similar experiences, and lo and behold, a lot of others had it worse than us. However, it was noted that he was slow and dull with no mental illness, nor was he found to be "mentally retarded." PTSD Treatment Works The National Center for PTSD website offers resources for trauma survivors, Veterans, family and friends of those with PTSD, as well as mental health providers. VA Disability Compensation Boot Camp. I don't know how severe it was, but I know that he was discharged for it. Even the civilian employees did that, because recruits have no power there. 38 C.F.R. In June 1997, his disability determination was continued and he was found to be disabled by reason of degenerative disc disease and schizophrenia. He was discharged from service that month due to unsuitability. The RO originally construed the Veteran's claim as a claim for service connection for PTSD with anxiety and depression. He was awake, alert, oriented to person, place, time, and situation. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? He was returned to duty. (Photo/Courtesy of Dexter Egleston) June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month a time to shed light on . These cookies collect information about how you use our website. Department of Veterans Affairs. It complicates things. 4.125(a), conforming to the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV); (2) medical evidence establishing a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor; and (3) credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Because the break is in such an awkward position though, it fails to heal properly, and it leaves the teenager with a permanent limp long after the cast comes off. The military mental health screening process for recruits is limited, to say the least. The problem with PTSD is that the disorder is often linked to serious trauma like what you might experience serving the Armed Forces. 38 U.S.C.A. Learn more about the mental health disorders that could potentially disqualify you from military service. For example, you can rejoin the Army with few issues if you left with an RE-1 re-entry code (or any of its variants), according to Army Regulation (AR) 601-210, "Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program.". Consider that OP could be telling the truth. DOCKET NO. In general, any mood disorder that requires medication to treat is a mental health disqualification standard. If a claimed in-service stressor is related to the Veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and a VA psychiatrist or psychologist, or a psychiatrist or psychologist with whom VA has contracted, confirms that the claimed stressor is adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD and that the Veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor, and the claimed stressor is consistent with the places, types, and circumstances of the Veteran's service, in the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, the Veteran's lay testimony alone may establish the occurrence of the claimed stressor. Typically, youll need to fall into the first two categories if youre hoping to be a veteran: The type of separation from the military, whether its the Air Force, National Guard, Navy, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps branch, will dictate the paperwork for each individual. Military mental health disqualifications can prevent you from serving in the military. For instance, lets say that a man joins the Navy as soon as they turn 18 right out of high school. CONCLUSION OF LAW The Department of Defense treats Aspergers Syndrome as an automatic mental health disqualifier. All of the statements indicated that the Veteran was a good, active student prior to his entrance into the Marine Corps. We realized that the PTSD is a condition that often affects ones judgement and we began to analyze most of the situations that caused him to develop post-service head traumas. In both instances, you could claim TMJ . Probably the most critical reason that your VA disability claim could have been denied, might simply be because you missed the deadline. The members of the National Guard and the Reserves are usually not eligible for veterans benefits, unless they were deployed under federal guidelines. 38 C.F.R. However, those symptoms are different from someone that is diagnosed with and suffers from mood disorders or other mental illnesses. In order to qualify for VA disability benefits, a veterans injuries or illnesses must have occurred or been aggravated during active duty military service. VA disability benefits come in the form of monthly compensation paid to veterans who are suffering from service-connected conditions. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from February 2007 and April 2007 rating decisions of the St. Petersburg, Florida, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO), which denied the benefits sought on appeal. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) disqualifies you from military service in most cases. Unfortunately, the military considers PTSD a disqualifying mental health condition. The other recruits were witnesses, but even then, who are they going to believe; USMC drill instructors or some random recruits that just showed up 3 weeks ago? There was a list of "rights" that recruits technically had, but in my experience only one or two of them were applied in practice. Plus, the psychological damage can manifest into physical impairments, like losing sleep or hyper arousal. But this is all normal stuff that nobody really cares about. The military uses a mental health screening to see if there are any potential red flags that will prevent you from carrying out your role fully with the military. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. 2012); Bradford v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. What if that isn't you? Associated with the claims file in March 2008, were statements from three of the Veteran's high school teachers, and his cousin in support of his claim. Nobody got 8 hours of sleep regardless of firewatch duties (I remember being woken up in the middle of the night to do something random for about an hour and then going back to sleep). Please seek the help you deserve. The concept is based in military-style boot camps and uses tough and often dangerous tactics to "break" down teens using harsh physical and mental discipline. If you are a former POW who has been diagnosed as having one or more of these conditions to a degree that is at least 10 percent disabling, VA presumes that it is associated with the POW experience and you are entitled to disability compensation. You should avoid service to find more effective ways to cope with the disorder. The interview isnt too detailed if there are no concerns or red flags within your medical record. The problem with many types of mental illness is that the diagnosis is highly subjective. INTRODUCTION He stated the Veteran was "well motivated, but I wonder." When you apply, do the following: Select "Environmental Hazard - Camp Lejeune" as a special issue. I had a less than ideal experience there. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 For instance, an infection could occur that leads to TMJ pain. 3.304(f)(3) (2012). It was noted that there was no physical or mental disorder which warranted his discharge from service. When boot camps first became popular in the 1990s, they mostly focused on military-style treatment. Known as DD Form 214, this document will list the circumstances under your departure from the active military. When I answered in the affirmative, they literally said "No you haven't, recruit. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. 79 (2009). Unfortunately, we had to just deal with it. Post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ), sometimes known as shell shock or combat stress, occurs after you experience severe trauma or a life-threatening event. I can also definitely understand the doctors. Therefore, serving in the military might only make symptoms worse. Examples of personal assault include rape, physical assault, domestic battery, robbery, mugging, stalking, and harassment. Moreover, when determining the scope of an issue on appeal, the Board is required to consider the claimant's description of the claim, the symptoms the claimant describes, and the information the claimant submits in support of that claim. I watched one recruit pusehd into burning hot showers by drill instructors for whatever reason (probably something minor), and he came out with burns all across his body. How does the military test for mental health disorders? Some people just can't handle the intensity hazing in other words. If you want to know whether you can say I am a veteran, it helps to talk to someone who knows the federal law backward and forth. Your final VA Disability Rating for PTSD depends upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of symptoms to include "HOW" those symptoms impact your "Occupational and Social Impairment.". Two things most people fail to understand about PSTD (or PTS, as it should be called, because it's not a disorder): 1.) He was discharged 100 percent disabled and never graduated boot camp. You also need to prove you havent used any medication for the learning disability in the last year. 1110 (West 2002); 38 C.F.R. Related Article: Army APFT Standards for Males and Females. Veteran Caregivers & Special Monthly Compensation, The Role of Service and Emotional Support Dogs in a Veteran's Life, MST (Military Sexual Trauma) and the Veteran: No Longer a Stigma. The information will be pivotal for those applying for any kind of VA benefits. Two things most people fail to understand about PSTD (or PTS, as it should be called, because it's not a disorder): 1.) They pay it at the 100% rate. A veteran must also have separated or been discharged from service under . The Veteran maintains that he warrants service connection for PTSD based upon his experiences while serving in boot camp in the Marines. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. His speech was spontaneous, with regular rate, rhythm, and volume. He stated that he feared for his life and physical integrity. Before the hitting started, the drill instructors had all recruits sign something that said that whatever bruises they had were not from being hit by drill instructors. For reference, I have PTSD from military sexual trauma that I reported for 8 months before finally ending up on suicide watch in a mental hospital. 38 C.F.R. 200 (2006); Patton v. West, 12 Vet. If it prevents you from doing things you want to do or makes you feel physically sick, its important to talk to a physician about your symptoms. The possible disability ratings are: 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 100 percent. I helped a few buddies get there disability rating increased as well so if anyone has any questions I'm more then willing to help anyone out. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg, Florida 1110 (West 2002); 38 C.F.R. Bad conduct discharge: A bad conduct discharge is a non-administrative discharge and will usually come after a court-martial. Additionally, the Department of Defense examines if any treatment has been prescribed for the disorder in the last 36 months. In order to be considered a veteran, your discharge will need to be designated under a certain category. In the past, the military has disqualified just about any medication related to mental health. However, the current policy is a little different. Gathering all medical records related to the syndrome and answering any questions a recruiter has about the condition goes a long way. Both PTSD and C-PTSD are caused by trauma, but while PTSD is triggered by a traumatic event such as a car accident, isolated assault, or natural disaster, C-PTSD develops after a person endures prolonged, repeated trauma. He stated that his drill instructor constantly yelled at him, beat him up, and threatened to throw him in the swamp at Parris Island so that the alligators could attack him. The death of my friend during boot camp happened in 1962 at Ft. Jackson, SC. Other than honorable (OTH) discharge: This type of administrative discharge is the most severe, and might include serious violations of military code. We have updated our Privacy Policy. This psychologist humiliated me and said matter-of-factly that I was making everything up. Anxiety and Depression Association of America Help with finding a therapist. Shut up." They can file for VA disability benefits 180 to 90 days prior to separation from service, or at any point following separation from service. It goes without saying a person suffering from PTSD . I remember I had the worst headache I could bare and I head of to SSC and they gave me to worst attitude and gave me motrin. This presumption complements the health care already provided for 15 illnesses or conditions as part of the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012. The military also previously disqualified those that had a history of self-mutilation. As a finder of fact, the Board, when considering whether lay evidence is satisfactory, the Board may also properly consider internal inconsistency of the statements, facial plausibility, consistency with other evidence submitted on behalf of the Veteran, and the Veteran's demeanor when testifying at a hearing. Continue reading to find out what the U.S. Military generally allows and does NOT allow. 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