PTSD can be caused by events that occur before, during, or after service. If youre still using drugs or alcohol, how often do you use them? Personal statements are immensely powerful and important for your VA claim strategy and should be written carefully. VA Form 21-0781 Form name:Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for PTSD Use VA Form 21-0781 if you've been diagnosed with PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) and want to apply for related benefits or services. We encourage you to be candid with the reader. Here is an example of how to write this section: I suffer from severe symptoms of PTSD and now have hyper-sensitivity to lights and loud noises, near constant anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughts, near constant panic attacks, sweating, heart racing, ringing in my ears, tingling in my arms, mouth, and lips, dry mouth, headaches, severe insomnia, significant impairment of my short-term and long-term memory, severe anger issues, and paranoia. Ive worked from home since 2014, which helps me maintain control of my surroundings to include the environment, sounds, lights, space, etc. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Ambassadors having gone through our programs. In this Ultimate Guide, we'll explore how to get a VA Rating for PTSD even if you've already filed or been denied benefits in the past. >> Click HERE to learn How to Write a VA Buddy Letter <<. What Are Some VA Lay Statement Examples? PDF Establishing Stressors in Support of Ptsd Claims Resource Guide 10 Veterans Benefits You May Not Know About, Medal of Honor: Benefits, History and Facts, Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), Security Clearance Jobs After the Military, Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers (UCX), Military Spouse Career Advancement (MyCAA) Scholarship Program, Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for the GI Bill, Find Out What You Qualify For: Free Medical Evidence Evaluation for VA Disability, Get the VA Disability Rating You're Entitled To: Start with a Free Evaluation Today, 2023 Retired Military and Annuitant Pay Dates, 2023 Reserve and National Guard Drill Pay. Any use you make of the information in this memorandum is at your own risk. Write from the first person. Theres no rule that says it has to be written in one sitting. of Veterans Affairs , the Dept. service departments, the JSRRC, and the Marine Corps Archives and Special For the Veterans lay testimony (personal statement) alone to establish the occurrence of a claimed stressor, Circumstances, conditions, or hardships of service for claims based on an in-service PTSD diagnosis or FPOW or combat service, or, Places, types, and circumstances of service for claims based on a fear of hostile military or terrorist activity or duties as a drone aircraft crew member, and. Heres a good litmus test: Did you or did you not fear for your life?. After you returned to civilian life, did your parents and friends have trouble understanding you? The importance of Stressor Statements: So youve filed for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a VA rating? Are there postings on Facebook or other social media? almost certainly be denied service-connection for PTSD non-combat. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. Next, tell what changed as a result of your military service. A current diagnosis of PTSD in conformance with the new DSMV 2. If your stressor is related to a personal assault, including military sexual trauma and physical attacks, you would file a VA form 21-0781a. I often forget people and places, suffer from severe memory loss, forget where Im driving to and from, I have severe depression, chronic anxiety, constant panic attacks, and constantly check windows, doors, and locks out of OCD-like paranoia. the stressor event occur (veteran was stuck inside a small compartment on-board But first things first: You might be wondering what the heck is a Statement in Support of a Claim (VA Form 21-4138)? Is there a trail of e-mails or text messages that would be helpful? I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. Next, tell the reader about your present state of mind. Are you STUCK, FRUSTRATED and UNDERRATED? Did you lose interest in sports? Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I recommend that the name of the condition matches with the actual medical diagnosis in your medical records. According to the Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA), heres a list of disabled veteran benefits from 0% to 100%, to include Today,Brian Reesethe VA Claims Insider reveals and explains the 72 Best Federal Veteran Benefits from A to Z. Id like to examine the Date of Incident portion. If you were no longer interested in activities you once enjoyed, talk about that. Evidence.. You're not alone. The VA considers the following to be PTSD stressors: Exposure to death Threatened death Actual serious injury Threatened serious injury Actual sexual violence Threatened sexual violence The VA Rating Formula for Mental Disorders and Disabilities Like PTSD, Depression, and More Watch on This video explains how the VA rates mental disorders. Thank you! Its good that you know these terms, because you also know that they apply to large numbers of men and women. Writing this stressor letter correctly or with enough detail bottle be a key factor in acquisition VA benefits. 1. To receive a combat PTSD diagnosis, you must have experienced a combat stressor event in the VA's eyes. Examples of claimed stressors that must be corroborated by Measures authored by National Center . The relationship between stressors during military service and current problems/symptoms will govern the question of service connection. Your submission has been received! your behalf, youre setting yourself up for disaster! Print it with your full name, Social Security Number, and page numbers that indicate how many total pages the document has and what page the reader is currently on. Credible supporting evidence of a stressor may be obtained Or perhaps you no longer feel that you are available for your children. For example, rather than pursuing a PTSD VA claim with a weak stressor that cant be verified, why not go for Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) aka Chronic Pain Syndrome with Depression / Anxiety aka Lifestyle Impact Claim secondary to one or more service-connected disabilities? Just the sheer amount of time that has passed makes this a difficult piece of the puzzle. Remember, your task is to help the reader understand what has happened to you. Making a VA PTSD claim ultimately requires submitting VA Form 21-0781 Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for PTSD, or VA Form 21-0781-A Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Secondary to Personal Assault. My PTSD has negatively affected my work and life in many ways. Veteran Services, Veteran Employment Services, Professional Development Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. 02:12 VA Disability Benefits Basic Eligibility Explained! This will be much more effective than providing clinical descriptions of symptoms that you may have learned while undergoing mental health treatment. A link or nexus between the PTSD diagnosis and the alleged in service stressor and 3. Did you go to school? most reliable source for corroborating in-service stressors and should be support of the PTSD non-combat claim, (3) A Buddy Letter from his spouse explaining Find out how to apply for VA health care. PDF (Do Not Write in This Space) Statement in Support of Claim for Service It is typically obtained from the National Archives and Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. In part four, you should explain how the disability negatively affects your work, life, and social functioning. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. VA OIG,enied Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Claims Related to Military Sexual Trauma . The VA often fails in its duty to assist, especially when it Doing so will help you to streamline your narrative in places and add detail in others. You can request a copy of personnel records and service medical records from the military, and these records will help you remember dates and other details of what happened. Its best to assume you will need this narrative again. I was formally diagnosed with PTSD in 2006 (see pages 22, 35, 47, and 68 of the attached VA Medical Records). Before you sit down to start writing, line up a counselor, a therapist, or a friendsomeone you can talk with if you find yourself overwhelmed by troubling memories and emotions. A personal statement you write on the VA Form 21-4138 documenting how you think your current non-combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is due to an in-service sexual assault and stressor event that occurred 20 years ago IS lay evidence. These materials are the property of Swords to Plowshares and are made available at no charge. Stressor verification is a huge deal for VA disability claims for PTSD. If you believe you were exposed to Agent Orange, you need to know how the VA decides whether youre entitled to benefits. Expert Tip: Pay close attention to the symptoms based upon the rating criteria of the condition youre claiming from CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities. All Rights Reserved. When you submit an application for disability compensation and one of the disabilities you claim is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you will typically receive a letter from the VA acknowledging receipt of your application and asking you to write a "stressor statement." I say this because only PTSD has stressors that must be verifiedother mental health conditions do not. The content on Veteran.com is produced by Three Creeks Media, its partners, affiliates and contractors, any opinions or statements on Veteran.com should not be attributed to the Dept. circumstances of the Veterans service. And please make sure you then provide that date in your remarks. Each person will need to describe their relationship to you, how long they have known you, and how much time you normally spend together. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. By definition, corroborate means to support with evidence or For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Thats ok believe it or not. Check out the leadership team behind our success, Join our growing team of passionate people. It is difficult to sit down and write about terrible events that you don't even want to think about or remember. About VA Form 21-0781a | Veterans Affairs Neither Veteran.com nor Three Creeks Media are associated with or endorsed by the U.S. activitys responsibility. Tell the truth. The exposure can be related to: Direct exposure Indirect exposure, such as learning that a close relative or close friend was exposed to trauma Witnessing in-person Your friends and family members have a special ability to describe how your life has changed as a result of traumatic events you experience while in the service. Dont write your stressor statement over the holidays, over three-day weekends where you dont expect to socialize much, etc. The formatting of your statement is importantits best to submit a non-handwritten statement. If you suffer from severe symptoms of PTSD that cause major impacts be sure to write down all the symptoms with examples so the VA Rater gets an accurate picture of your approximate symptoms and level of impairment. You must confirm you were there, witnessed the event, and that the event happened to YOU. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. Weve attempted to give you an outline for a typical statement, but you may need to alter or even ignore this outline to get across to the reader what happened to you in the military, and how it has affected you. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! #4. Life after traumatic event(s). stressor, claims processors must consider the credibility and probative value This can be a first step in getting treatment and support for PTSD. Let a trained medical professional diagnose you, dont try evaluating yourself except to acknowledge you should seek the advice of a trained professional. This exposure could include life-threatening combat situations, but witnessing injury and death or handling human remains can also be traumatic and can trigger PTSD. The requirement that a claimed stressor be consistent with the places, types, and circumstances of the veteran's service originates in the statute that authorizes this regulation, 38 U.S.C. Heres a list of things you should DEFINITELY do when writing your stressor statement: #5: Preparation First: gather all documentation and write your statement with all the relevant dates, locations, and other information at your fingertips. #4. The purpose of these forms is for you to describe the stressor that contributed to the development of your Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Avoid jargon, use ordinary language, and do not omit relevant details. The other stressor types include noncombat, combat, fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, prisoner of war, Its actually better if you donteven if you get all the way through a first draft in one sitting, you arent done writing yet. Reveals 100+ SECRET Federal & State Veteran Benefits! Have a support system in place before you begin for an easier personal journey. If you re-read your PTSD Stressor Statement and you cant see a direct before-and-after relationship between the trauma and the quality of your life and/or mental health after the event(s) you will need to re-write your narrative to make a clear connection between the trauma and the negative changes in your life following it. To prepare the statement, youll almost certainly need to have your military records at hand. Actual or threatened death or serious injury, or other threat to ones physical being, caused by something other than hostile military or terrorist activity. I literally cannot overstate the importance of this previous statement. Writing Your PTSD Stressor Statement - Veteran.com The VA states astressorinvolves exposure to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence. Take part in school activities? Before we begin, make sure to download the official VA Form 21-4138 Statement in Support of a Claim and save it to your computer. Remember that you are making a case for compensation heredont be hasty when it comes to submitting your final draft to the VA, your Veteran Service Organization, etc. Be descriptive, but dont exaggerate. Early summer, late winter. These forms are used to gather information so the VA can find records corroborating in-service stressors for PTSD (Any trauma not related to personal assault should be reported on a 0781). Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! A VA Statement in Support of Claim should be 3-5 paragraphs max. Life before military service; 2. The VA will ask you to provide a statement on VA form 21-0781. primary disability, especially if you were diagnosed in-service or shortly The first evidence source is something called Primary You mean to tell me that you need the exact day that this happened and it was way back in the 70s? The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. VA Form 21-0781. Angry? VA Claims insider is an education-based coaching/consulting company. The second evidence source is something called Secondary For example: I joined the [branch of service] on [date], and received an [Honorable, General, etc.] If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. There are steps you can take while youre incarcerated to improve your chances for a discharge upgrade after youre released. A best practice is to explain at least two specific examples of how your disabilty is limiting or affecting you in negative ways. one-buddy letter from a first-hand witness who can confirm these facts, youll How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! DOC Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 1, Section D. Claims for Service Expert Tip: Insert the Diagnostic Code (DC) of the condition youre claiming from CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities. was actually present or witnessed the non-combat PTSD event.. to otherwise corroborate a claimed in-service stressor when corroboration is Are you now clean and sober? I lost my job because I cant get along with my co-workers and supervisors, could not concentrate on my work, took too many sick days for depression and anxiety, and I had angry outbursts at my boss, co-workers, and customers. "PTSD: National Center for PTSD," accessed April 20, 2020, https://www.ptsd.va.gov. This is true not only for veterans who served in a combat zone, but also for veterans who suffered Military Sexual Trauma. A guess is you telling the VA that is the date you want their research to center around. carefully reviewed when corroboration is required. What Combat and Non-Combat Events Qualify for PTSD Stressors? Start your statement by introducing yourself to the reader. Corroboration or verification of the occurrence of the alleged inservice stressor(s). As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. Personal statements can be very powerful in filling-in any gaps between your military service and present day, to include things like service treatment records, doctor visits for treatment (or lack thereof), severity of your symptoms over time, and how your disability is negatively affecting your work, life, and social functioning. Grab your free copy of "The Veteran Benefits Bible" right now. It is already stressful enough to recall the incident in question. The information in this memorandum is current as of December 2012. Then describe what happened after you returned home from the service. Depressed? Be specific as possible. You may be able to peg the event to another occurrence in your life. The reality is if the veteran cant prove their PTSD stressor on an at least as likely as not basis, youll likely be denied service connection. What follows is not legal advice, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed method for submitting a PTSD claim and succeeding in getting a VA disability rating. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! of Defense or any governmental entity. These episodes occur once every 2 weeks on average. Begin with a brief summary of your life before you entered the military. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! Oops! You might also like >> How to Prove Your PTSD Non Combat Stressor <<. If you have questions about Veteran programs offered through or by the Dept. You're not alone. A holiday? The facts are powerful enough. needs further verification. If you rely on the VA Rater to track down information on As open and honest you can possibly be is how you need to be with regards to the effects. #3: Dont Write A Single Draft: Review your statement when you feel it is finished and read it aloud. Provide as much detail as you can and also describe the feelings you had about what happened. occurred. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. If you recalled that it happened around your wedding anniversary or your birthday or something to that effect that would pay huge dividends in the VA nailing down a timeframe of the incident. This is also referred to as corroboration of a claimed up-front. PDF Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-traumatic How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! And you may wonder to yourself what the heck is a stressor statement exactly? From[date] to [date], I was stationed in [location] with the [name of unit]. This is not the time to be proud. Give specific examples of your PTSD symptoms. You could also pursue a VA claim for Depression or Anxiety as a Was religion important to you? As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. If you cant get at least one Buddy Letter to support the claimed stressor, theres a high likelihood youll get denied service connection for PTSD. VA Lay Statement Example: What The Heck Is Lay Evidence? Give examples of problems you had with work, school, or relationships. Its reasonable to assume a veteran will pursue a VA disability claim for PTSD at some point, and this post will help you on your path to service connection for PTSD. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability, and has served more than 6,000,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. Top, we mentioned that a stressor statement, or stressor letter, is a key part of the PTSD stressor verification process. Ive had service-connected Tinnitus since 2006. VA Disability Compensation For PTSD | Veterans Affairs Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. For example, a Navy veteran had (1) A medical diagnosis of PTSD and was seeking treatment, (2) A personal statement (lay statement) in support of the PTSD claim, (3) A newspaper article about the hurricane event to confirm the stressor event, and (4) A "Buddy Letter" explaining that the event did in fact occur. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! The final portion of the form Id like to examine in the space provided for behavioral changes occurring after the incident. VA Claims insider is an education-based coaching/consulting company. Making a VA PTSD claim ultimately requires submitting VA Form 21-0781 Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for PTSD, or VA Form 21-0781-A Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Secondary to Personal Assault. How well did you get along with members of your family? Were here for disabled veterans exploring eligibility for increased VA disability benefits and who wish to learn more about that process. Service personnel records and pay records, Verification that the Veteran received Combat/Imminent Danger/Hostile Fire Pay, Operational reports-lessons learned (ORLLs), Radio logs, deck logs, and ship histories, Command chronologies and war diaries, and, Contemporaneous letters and diaries (maybe you kept a journal? Statements regarding a veteran's PTSD from counselors, social workers, or other therapists that are not medical doctors will not be considered a diagnosis of PTSD by the VA. . It is estimated that veterans are four times (4x) as likely to have or develop PTSD compared to those who didnt serve in the militarya truly shocking statistic. You can apply online instead of filling out and sending us the paper form. Also keep in mind that some of these principles will also serve you well when filling out the VA forms mentioned above in association with your claim. Add your signature, and staple the pages together before you submit the statement to the VA. No two stressor statements are alike. Did you have trouble on the job? Join our premier education-based membership program, VA Claims Insider Elite, connect with an expert-level Veteran Coach (VC) within minutes, and finally get the rating you deserve. Were you angry? Enjoy hobbies? Expert Tip: You want to explain the Nexus (e.g., why you think the condition should be service connected) to the VA Rater very clearly in two sentences of less. A girlfriend or boyfriend? DD214 Name Corrections for Transgender Veterans, DD214 Corrections for Veterans Discharged Under Dont Ask, Dont Tell and Prior Policies. Lets say youre filing for Migraines secondary to Tinnitus. List the Current Symptoms of Your Disability in Terms of Frequency, Severity, and Duration Over Time. The VA has different rules to assess whether a stressor event Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Ambassadors having gone through our programs. Veteran.com is a property of Three Creeks Media. The purpose of VA Form 21-0781 is for veterans to provide as much detail as possible about a non-combat event that led to a diagnosis of PTSD.The VA requires more than the veteran's word that a service stressor occurred that led to non-combat PTSD before it can assign a VA disability rating and remit monthly payments. If a ranking or list has a company noted to be a partner the indicated company is a corporate affiliate of Veteran.com. Veterans symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. It is the responsibility of the examiner to indicate the traumatic stressor leading to PTSD, if he or she makes the diagnosis of PTSD. Describe what happened to you in terms of I statements such as, My name is John Smith and I joined the Army in 2005 as a Combat Engineer. To me personally, this is what I see matter the most when the VA decides your claim. What is a VA Statement in Support of a Claim? For both the VA form and your own personal stressor statement, you will need to prepare by gathering supporting documentation such as your military and civilian medical records, your military service record, your DD Form 214 or Guard/Reserve equivalent, etc. Your service records are only one possible source of information for your stressor statement. 1. PDF WRITING YOUR PTSD STRESSOR STATEMENT - Webflow The VA will notify you if one is needed. Grab your free copy of "The Veteran Benefits Bible" right now. I also share a real VA Statement in Support of Claim Example with on-screen tips, strategies, and lessons learned. For example, if youre a first-time filer of PTSD, you would name the disability in the header as follows: DC 9411, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Due to Combat Deployment to Iraq. Statement#2: Statement in Support of a Claim to Increase Service-Connected GERD, which should explain how your GERD limits or affects your work, life, and social functioning, to include your current GERD and acid reflux symptoms, and why you should have a higher rating. It can also be an actual serious injury or . possible. PTSD and was seeking treatment, (2) A personal statement (lay statement) in How to Write a VA Statement in Support of a Claim Step #4: Explain How the Disability Negatively Impacts your Work, Life, and Social Functioning. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. For example, if youre claiming PTSD due to a combat deployment, be sure to explain this to include any PTSD Stressor Events (e.g., you feared for your life and safety) to the VA Rater in your personal statement along with the location, month, and year. Did your children? When determining the occurrence of PTSD Stressor Requirements to establishservice connection for PTSD, VA Raters must consider the following: Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: Military Sexual Trauma (MST), assault or harassment, Click HERE for a Buddy Letter for PTSD Example <<, Indirect exposure, such as learning that a close relative or >> Click HERE for a Buddy Letter for PTSD Example <<. Did it happen close in time to a birthday? Further, the spouse was NOT a first-hand witness to the incident (she was not on-board the ship nor did she witness the incident), and thus, held little credibility in the eyes of the VA Rater. Reference: For more information on developing claims of PTSD, seeM21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 1.A.