Veterans benefits for post - traumatic stress disorder in the United States The United States provides a wide range of benefits for veterans with Posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) , which was incurred in , or aggravated by , their military service . The United States Department of Veterans Affairs ( VA ) will provide benefits to almost all veterans that the VA has determined suffer from PTSD , which developed during , or as a result of , their military service , and which interferes at least to some extent in their ability to work . These benefits not only include tax - free cash payments but can also include free or low - cost mental health treatment and other healthcare ; vocational rehabilitation services ; employment assistance ; independent living support ; and more . U . S . Veterans Benefits . Brief history of U . S . Veterans Disability Benefits . Since the founding of the country , the United States has sought to compensate the men and women who have served in its armed forces . Initially this compensation was given to all veterans as a gratuity payment , i . e . , as a ' thank you ' for their service . But in 1917 , the U . S . Congress initiated a shift in the rationale for compensation away from a gratuity system and toward an indemnity scheme . Since that year , compensation has been provided to veterans suffering from physical or mental disabilities that were incurred during , or aggravated by , military service , and which have adversely impacted the veteran ' s ability to work . The amount of compensation provided — both cash payments and VA - sponsored services — are based on the veteran ' s " average impairment in earnings capacity . " VA Disability Benefits Claim Process for PTSD . This section provides a brief overview of the 8 - step claims process ; describes how to file an initial claim for disability benefits for PTSD ; how and why to ask for assistance with filing a claim ; and how to locate and select sources for such assistance . Overview of claims process . The VA provides a description of the 8 - step benefits claims process on its website . This is a brief overview : 1 . Claim Received - The veteran has submitted a disability compensation claim in person ( e . g . , while still on active duty with a VBA ( Veterans Benefits Administration ) representative visiting his or her base ) , online ( via the Veterans On - Line Application [ VONAPP ] ) , or by postal mail to the VBA Regional Office ( VARO ) assigned to his or her geographical location ( legal residence ) . The VARO sends a letter to the veteran via postal mail confirming receipt of the claim . 2 . Under Review - A VSR ( Veterans Service Representative ) reviews the information submitted by the veteran to determine if VBA needs any additional evidence ( e . g . , service medical records ) to adjudicate the claim . 3 . Gathering of Evidence - VA has a legal obligation to help veterans obtain any evidence that will support their claim . For example , the VSR might request a veteran ' s military personnel records ( e . g . , to confirm unit assignments ) , Social Security disability records ( if the veteran applied for Social Security disability benefits ) , or private medical records . The veteran can also obtain such records and submit them to the VBA Regional Office handling his or her claim . If necessary , the VSR will request a Compensation and Pension examination ( C & P exam ) at this time . 4 . Review of Evidence - A RVSR ( Ratings Veterans Service Representative ) makes sure that all relevant evidence has been obtained , and , if so , renders a decision regarding the veteran ' s claim . 5 . Preparation for Decision - It is not clear how this step differs from the previous step . The exact quote from the VA website is : " The Veterans Service Representative [ presumably they mean the " Ratings " Veterans Service Representative ] has recommended a decision , and is preparing required documents detailing that decision . If more evidence is required , the claim will be sent back in the process for more information or evidence . " 6 . Pending Decision Approval - Approval by a supervisor . 7 . Preparation for Notification - Preparing the " claim decision packet " ( Decision Letter and explanatory materials ) . 8 . Complete - VBA mails the " claim decision packet " to the veteran . Benefits application procedures . To begin the disability claim process , a veteran must submit an application to the Veterans Benefits Administration ( VBA ) , an organizational element of the VA . The VBA , based on their review of medical and psychological evidence , must conclude that the veteran indeed suffers from service - connected PTSD . Reaching such a determination usually requires that the veteran receive a Compensation and Pension examination ( C & P exam ) , which is a forensic mental health evaluation conducted by a psychologist or psychiatrist at a local VA medical facility or by a psychologist or psychiatrist in independent practice who conducts evaluations for a VA - contracted private vendor . A veteran can apply for compensation benefits him or herself by filling out VA Form 21 - 526 , " Veterans Application for Compensation and / or Pension " and mailing it to their local Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office , often referred to as the " VARO " ( VA Regional Office ) . Note that VA Form 21 - 526 and the accompanying instructions are quite detailed , which is probably why the VA recommends that veterans take advantage of expert assistance from specially trained Veterans Service Officers ( see next section ) . A veteran may also file a disability benefits claim online using the Veterans On - Line Application ( VONAPP ) System . Obtaining Assistance with Filing a Disability Compensation Claim . Veterans may receive assistance with filing a VA disability compensation claim from Veterans Service Officers , also known as " VSO Representatives " when they are affiliated with a nonprofit Veterans Service Organization . Note in this regard that the VA specifically recommends that veterans ask a Veterans Service Officer to help them file a disability compensation claim . Here is a quote from the VA website , which explains why the VA makes this recommendation : VA encourages individuals who are applying for disability compensation to work with an accredited representative . . . to assist them . . . Being accredited means organizations and individuals must have VA permission to represent Veterans before the Department in their claims for VA benefits . The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that Veterans have qualified and competent representation . These individuals receive specialized training in VA benefits law and procedure . The next two sections briefly describe the two types of Veterans Service Officers . County Veterans Service Officers . County Veterans Service Officers are public employees of their State ' s ( or Territory ' s ) veterans affairs agency . They are often called " County Veterans Service Officers , " because a majority of the states have set up local veterans affairs offices in each of the state ' s counties . Veterans Service Officers Associated with Nonprofit Veterans Service Organizations . Many not - for - profit Veterans Service Organizations , such as AMVETS ( American Veterans ) , recruit , train , and support their own Veterans Service Officers to help veterans file claims and navigate the claims process . In order to represent a veteran before the VA , the Veterans Service Organization must either have been Chartered by the U . S . Congress or have received official approval from the U . S . Department of Veterans Affairs to represent veterans in the disability compensation claims process . As noted above , these Veterans Service Officers are sometimes called " VSO Representatives " . Although to make matters somewhat confusing , note that the VA sometimes refers to " both " County Veterans Service Officers " and " VSO Representatives as " Veterans Service Organizations ( VSO ) Representatives " or " VSO Representatives . " For example , if you conduct an " Accreditation Search " on the VA website and search for a " VSO Representative , " the search results will list both County Veterans Service Officers and VSO Representatives . Selecting a Veterans Service Officer . Veterans may select either type of Veterans Service Officer to help them file their disability compensation claim ( s ) . After the veteran selects his or her Veterans Service Officer , he or she completes VA Form 21 - 22 , " Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant ' s Representative " and submits it to the Veterans Benefits Administration . ( Note that for the purposes of Form 21 - 22 , a State or Territory veterans affairs agency is considered to be a " Veterans Service Organization " ) . This appointment authorization gives the Veterans Service Officer legal authority to represent the veteran ' s interest in communications with VBA and any other related agencies or organizations involved in the disability benefits claims process . After VA Form 21 - 22 has been received and accepted by the Veterans Benefits Administration , the Veterans Service Officer helps the veteran file the initial disability compensation claim . Subsequent to filing the claim , the Service Officer may also engage in a variety of other , related , activities on behalf of the veteran , for example , calling the Veterans Benefits Administration to inquire about the status of a veteran ' s claim , or appearing with a veteran when meeting with VBA officials , or helping the veteran understand the Compensation and Pension ( C & P ) examination process . The veteran does not pay a Veterans Service Officer for their services . The Service Officers are either state employees , employees of a Veterans Service Organization , or are volunteers for a Veterans Service Organization . Post - Adjudication Representation . If a veteran is not satisfied with the VBA ' s decision regarding their compensation claim , they may appeal the decision , and they may ask to be represented by an accredited " attorney " or " claims agent " in the appeals process . Veterans usually appeal a decision because their claim was either denied outright or because they believe that the disability rating assigned by the VBA is incorrect . Note that the VA does not require a veteran to be represented by an attorney or claims agent . In addition , Veterans Service Officers may assist a veteran through the appeals process ( although he or she is usually not an attorney so may not be as familiar with legal proceedings , relevant case law , legal strategies , etc . ) . VA prohibits attorneys or claims agents from charging a veteran for professional services prior to the adjudication of the veteran ' s claim . A veteran may contract with an attorney or claims agent to represent them in an appeal only after the following three conditions have been met : Unless they agree to work on a " pro bono " basis , attorneys and claims agents who represent veterans before the Veterans Benefits Administration , Board of Veterans Appeals , and Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims require payment for their services . In most instances , the veteran and attorney ( or claims agent ) submit a signed payment agreement with the VA Office of General Counsel , which stipulates that the attorney will receive payment directly from the VA after the veteran ' s claim has been adjudicated , if the adjudicator awards service - connected disability compensation to the veteran . The amount of the attorney ' s fee is based on a percentage of the lump sum " back pay " compensation issued to the veteran by the VA . Accredited Attorneys . Attorneys who wish to represent veterans in proceedings before the agency of original jurisdiction ( the Veterans Benefits Administration ) , the Board of Veterans Appeals , or the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims , must first receive accredition from the VA General Counsel . The attorney begins the process by submitting an " Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent or Attorney " ( VA Form 21a ) . Claims Agents . Accredited claims agents must submit an application to the VA General Counsel , which includes submitting the names and contact information of three character references ; pass a written examination ; and complete three hours of qualifying continuing legal education ( CLE ) within 12 months of their initial accreditation . Important Definitions . Traumatic Stressor . A " traumatic stressor " is an event that meets Criterion A of the DSM - IV diagnostic criteria for PTSD . Criterion A reads as follows : The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following have been present : A1 . The person has experienced , witnessed , or been confronted with an event or events that involve actual or threatened death or serious injury , or a threat to the physical integrity of oneself or others . A2 . The person ' s response involved intense fear , helplessness , or horror . Note that Criterion A2 was removed for DSM - 5 . But note that the VA will continue using DSM - IV in both treatment and disability evaluation ( C & P examination ) settings until on or about 1 October 2013 at which time the VA will transition to using DSM - 5 . Dr . Matthew J . Friedman of the National Center for PTSD notes that : PTSD is unique among psychiatric diagnoses because of the great importance placed upon the etiological agent , the " traumatic stressor " . In fact , one cannot make a PTSD diagnosis unless the patient has actually met the " stressor criterion , " which means that he or she has been exposed to an historical event that is considered traumatic . Service - Connection . The term , " service - connected " , means that a veteran has a disease or injury that is " connected " to his or her military service , i . e . , the disease or injury was incurred in , or aggravated by , his or her military service . The official definition in the Code of Federal Regulations begins : Service connection connotes many factors but basically it means that the facts , shown by evidence , establish that a particular injury or disease resulting in disability was incurred coincident with service in the Armed Forces , or if preexisting such service , was aggravated therein . The relationship between service connection and access to VA healthcare is emphasized in this definition : " ' Service connected ' veterans are those with documented , compensative conditions related to or aggravated by military service , and they receive priority for enrollment into the Veterans Affairs ( VA ) health care system . " Types of Service - Connection . There are four types of service connection : " direct " , " secondary " , " aggravated " , and " presumptive " . The present article is primarily concerned with " direct " service connection , since that is by far the most common type for soldiers , sailors , marines , airmen , or coast guardsmen suffering from PTSD . Examples of Direct Service - Connection for PTSD . As noted , the vast majority of veterans with PTSD have a " direct " service - connection , i . e . , they developed PTSD as a direct result of a traumatic stressor ( or stressors ) they endured during their military service . Traumatic stressors can be : These are the most common situations involving traumatic stressors that can lead to direct service connection for PTSD , but it is not an exhaustive list . Also , note that a service member is still considered to be enrolled in military service even if he or she is not performing specific military duties at the time they are injured ( e . g . , if they are injured at their home on their day off , that injury , if it results in a permanent disability , would in most instances be considered service - connected ) . Types of Military Service . The regulations describe three categories of military service , " active duty " , " active duty for training " , and " inactive duty training " . These categories and their very specific definitions would be particularly relevant to a veteran who , for example , experienced a traumatic stressor that led to PTSD during a period of training for the Reserves or National Guard . And there are some types of military service which are defined as falling under one of the three categories that might not occur to many people , such as the fact that the definition of " active duty " military service includes " service at any time as a cadet at the United States Military , Air Force , or Coast Guard Academy , or as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy . " - 38 CFR § 3 . 6 ( b ) ( 4 ) . Thus , a midshipman who was sexually assaulted and developed PTSD would , when he or she left the Navy , qualify for VA benefits . And there are other specifications in this set of regulations ( 38 CFR § 3 . 6 ) that one would never anticipate , such as the fact that the definition of " active duty for training " includes National Guard soldiers who participated in the reenactment of the Battle of First Manassas in July 1961 ( 38 CFR § 3 . 6 ( c ) ( 3 ) ) . " In Line of Duty " and Exceptions . " " In line of duty " means an injury or disease incurred or aggravated during a period of active military , naval , or air service unless such injury or disease was the result of the veteran ’ s own willful misconduct or . . . was a result of his or her abuse of alcohol or drugs . " The most important point here is that there are exceptions to the general rule that injuries or diseases incurred in , or aggravated by , military service are eligible for disability compensation benefits . Veterans who have questions about eligibility for VA benefits because of willful misconduct , alcohol or other drug abuse , or discharge status ( see the next section ) , or other factors ( see the regulation referenced above ) , can consult with a Veterans Service Officer in their area and / or contact the VBA Regional Office closest to their home for assistance . Discharge Status . In order to be eligible for VA benefits , a veteran must have been discharged under " other than dishonorable conditions " . Stated differently , if a veteran received a Bad Conduct Discharge or a Dishonorable Discharge they will , under most circumstances , not be eligible for VA benefits .