I’m looking for advice from anyone who might be knowledgeable about the limits of VA benefits. I have a loved one who is in need of counseling and willing to go, but apprehensive because of a fear that I’m not sure is necessary.
The story is below, but in short, my question is this: If he is diagnosed by the VA with combat PTSD, receiving disability and counseling, what impact would it have to disclose trauma which occurred in his life prior to service? Would the VA, in discovering this trauma, pull the plug on his benefits?
The story is this: He was sexually abused as a child and, naturally, suffers emotionally from that. Additionally, he grew up in an atmosphere of various other types of abuses and very little healthy structure to enable him to cope.
Then, he joined the military. He threw himself into his service and placed great value on becoming a “good soldier”. He was a dedicated soldier, but in combat, made a mistake which landed him in trouble. Therefore, while in combat, he went through a terrible series of disciplinary action, arrested, went through a court martial hearing (which I think he won), and generally ostracized and mistreated by his chain of command. Of course, he also experienced the normal hardships of combat, including killing a man who may/may not have been a combatant (the uncertainty of that experience haunts him, but he was carrying out orders when he did it).
He came home and got out of the military about seven years ago. He’s tried working, but panic attacks interfered with his ability to work. He is practically homeless. One of his fellow vets guided him through the VA process in pursuit of benefits. He was interested in counseling as well as receiving disability pay to sustain him financially. After going through the gauntlet of paperwork, meetings, counseling and WAITING, he victoriously began receiving disability pay this month. While going through the VA process, he did not disclose his prior abuse and trauma for fear that they would declare that he had PTSD prior to the military and be disqualified.
Now that he is on track financially, he is hoping to begin the emotional journey through counseling and therapy. However, he is afraid to go because either a) he will not disclose all of the events contributing to his present condition, crippling the healing process, or b) he is also worried that he WILL disclose these events and lose the financial benefits he relies on.
I’m certain that he is not the only case like this. My hope is that the VA recognizes that, while he was not a picture of emotional health before he joined, his experiences during combat directly contributed to his current disability, and therefore, be willing to continue providing disability pay as well as counseling to work through all of his issues.
Any similar experiences or knowledge about the system? Thanks so much.
The story is below, but in short, my question is this: If he is diagnosed by the VA with combat PTSD, receiving disability and counseling, what impact would it have to disclose trauma which occurred in his life prior to service? Would the VA, in discovering this trauma, pull the plug on his benefits?
The story is this: He was sexually abused as a child and, naturally, suffers emotionally from that. Additionally, he grew up in an atmosphere of various other types of abuses and very little healthy structure to enable him to cope.
Then, he joined the military. He threw himself into his service and placed great value on becoming a “good soldier”. He was a dedicated soldier, but in combat, made a mistake which landed him in trouble. Therefore, while in combat, he went through a terrible series of disciplinary action, arrested, went through a court martial hearing (which I think he won), and generally ostracized and mistreated by his chain of command. Of course, he also experienced the normal hardships of combat, including killing a man who may/may not have been a combatant (the uncertainty of that experience haunts him, but he was carrying out orders when he did it).
He came home and got out of the military about seven years ago. He’s tried working, but panic attacks interfered with his ability to work. He is practically homeless. One of his fellow vets guided him through the VA process in pursuit of benefits. He was interested in counseling as well as receiving disability pay to sustain him financially. After going through the gauntlet of paperwork, meetings, counseling and WAITING, he victoriously began receiving disability pay this month. While going through the VA process, he did not disclose his prior abuse and trauma for fear that they would declare that he had PTSD prior to the military and be disqualified.
Now that he is on track financially, he is hoping to begin the emotional journey through counseling and therapy. However, he is afraid to go because either a) he will not disclose all of the events contributing to his present condition, crippling the healing process, or b) he is also worried that he WILL disclose these events and lose the financial benefits he relies on.
I’m certain that he is not the only case like this. My hope is that the VA recognizes that, while he was not a picture of emotional health before he joined, his experiences during combat directly contributed to his current disability, and therefore, be willing to continue providing disability pay as well as counseling to work through all of his issues.
Any similar experiences or knowledge about the system? Thanks so much.
