PTSD is a medically recognized anxiety disorder that can develop from seeing or experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury to which a person responds with intense fear, helplessness or horror, not uncommon among war veterans.
The VA has reduced the evidence needed if the trauma claimed by a veteran is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and is consistent with the places, types and circumstances of the veteran’s service. They concluded that veterans have an increased risk of PTSD if deployed to a war zone. Previously, claims adjudicators were required to corroborate that a non-combat veteran actually experienced a stressor related to hostile military activity. The VA expects that this will decrease the time it takes for them to decide access to care and claims falling under the revised criteria.
In response to this new ruling, the Nevada Office of Veterans Services (NOVS) has begun reviewing more than 10,000 claims for Nevada veterans who were previously denied PTSD benefits and might now qualify under the new VA guidelines. NOVS will contact any veterans whose claims are identified as falling within the new criteria to offer assistance in reopening their claims for them.
NOVS expects to complete the review in the next few weeks. All veterans who believe they might have PTSD, were previously denied service connection for PTSD or currently have a pending claim with the VA for PTSD and want to know if the new rule applies should call the Nevada Office of Veterans Services toll-free statewide at (866) 630-8387, in Reno at 688-1653 or in Elko at 777-1000.
For more information, visit www.veterans.nv.gov.
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