Good news for veterans — the U.S. Veterans Administration is easing rules in order to qualify for benefits related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under the new rules to be introduced as early as next week, soldiers will no longer have to show documentation that they directly experienced or were witness to a “traumatic event” — like a firefight, a bomb blast, or the death of a friend in combat.
Getting supporting documentation has sometimes been a frustrating and challenging experience for soldiers. War zones aren’t always known for keeping the best paper records, and not every action or firefight is well-documented.
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Too bad this didn’t come in time for my father. He joined the Navy in 1941 at age 17 and came home a broken man. He committed suicide at age 36 in 1960. Some acknowledgment of what he and his cohorts experienced back then would be welcome.
This was a wonderful piece, John, and I’m sorry for Mary Brown who commented before me.
After WWII they had nothing for returning vets. My father was a Marine in the Pacific Islands. One day in the jungle and then weeks later back to civilian life. He was never the same but its effects came later.
I have a heart for our vets http://www.mjhb.net/?p=71 because not just my father but my favorite brother-in-law, every uncle and several friends’ children have been in wars: WWII, Korean, Viet Nam,The Gulf and Iraq. I have been close to some of the stories, their heartbreaking stories and stood close to their valor. They always take my breath away.
I never miss the opportunity to go up to a vet if he or she is wearing something to alert me of that important identifying information and it’s acontinuing and wonderful connection http://www.wheneverydaymatters.com/?p=47
Thanks for posting this.
First I would like to say that I am pleased that these well needed and long overdue changes are beginning to occur, and our service personnel are going to receive the benefits they well deserve.
However, I too am torn. My Father also served in WWII, Pacific, Philippines, as a combat nurse, and experienced the worst of the worst. He came home a very different person. Emotionally damaged, yes, but not broken. Perhaps now the VA will be brave enough to take the next step and award “Purple Hearts” and the associated benefits, to those who have suffered the severing of their emotional limbs, and to those who suffer still.
Thank you
Nicholas Fittante,MA,MFT,DCHt
A more effective way of treating PTSD is given here;
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Hypoglycemia at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/PTStress.html
and ask to be referred to a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or Nutritional Psychotherapist, if self-help therapy fails
I am VERY pleased to see that this is happening for our veterans with PTSD. I know how it is to live with PTSD and the effects of it and it is not fun, so they deserve all they can get compensated for.