Five Things You Didn t Know About Veterans Disability Lawyers

Veterans Disability Lawsuit - How to File a Veterans Disability Lawsuit

A veterans disability lawsuit could be the answer for a lot of veterans suffering from disabilities due to their military service. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides benefits to those who been in the military, including medical treatment and specialty programs.

However, obtaining these benefits is disproportionately difficult for Black veterans, as per a new lawsuit filed Monday. The suit was filed on behalf of Conley Monk Jr. by Yale Law School's Veterans Legal Services Clinic.

PTSD

PTSD symptoms can arise when traumatized people suffer. The symptoms include nightmares, anxiety or troubling flashbacks. The condition can make people to avoid places or situations that are reminiscent of their painful experience. This can cause a sense of isolation and depression. Counseling, medication and support from family members can treat PTSD.

A new lawsuit jointly filed by Black veterans and Yale law clinics revealed that the Department of Veterans Affairs denied disability compensation claims for Black veterans disability law firm repeatedly over the course of decades. Quil Lawrence of NPR reports that a VA whistleblower told the vets that VA documents showed that Black veterans were denied benefits in a higher proportion than white veterans.

The lawsuit was filed by Marine Vietnam veteran Conley monk and Yale's Veterans Legal Services Clinic. The lawsuit cites statistics that show that between 2001 and 2020 the rate of rejection for Black disability claims was 29.5 percent, as compared to 24.2 percent for white veterans.

The lawsuit seeks compensation for Monk and other Black veterans disability lawyers who were denied benefits. It is also seeking to force the VA to reassess the thousands of other claims that were incorrectly dismissed. The lawsuit was filed this week in federal court.

Traumatic Brain Injury

TBI can be mild, moderate or even severe and symptoms may be immediately visible or they may appear within a few hours or even weeks after the injury. Certain symptoms (headache dizziness, headache, fatigue) are physical, while others can include emotional, memory, concentration or behavioral issues. People with TBI may experience problems with their emotions, concentration, or even behavior. TBI might also have difficulty moving around, or have problems with balance and vision.

TBIs can be caused by an TBI when the brain is injured by an injury or bump to the head. This could result from a blunt force, or a penetrating injury (such as a bullet). The impact could cause the skull to break which causes bleeding and bruising of the brain within the skull. The brain can swell and push against the skull, cutting off blood circulation. The injury may be affecting the entire brain or a specific area of the brain.

Some TBIs are classified as open and some are closed. The classification is based on whether or not the skull has been fractured and whether or not the skull was closed or opened due to the impact. TBIs are a variety of severity, ranging from a concussion up to a death. Patients with TBI are at greater risk of developing depression, PTSD and other mental health conditions. Research suggests that having multiple moderate to severe TBIs could increase the likelihood of developing dementia and other movement issues in later life.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that occurs when a person experiences a trauma. The symptoms can manifest immediately after the event has ended or even years later. They may include memory problems, difficulty with concentration and sleep, a feeling of anger and irritability and being easily startled or jumpy. Certain people may experience depression or suicidal thoughts. Stress can cause issues at work, in relationships, and at home. It can also cause addiction, including alcohol or drugs.

Psychotherapy can help treat symptoms, like eye movement desensitisation (EMDR) and cognitive processing therapy. Some people with PTSD benefit from taking antidepressants, such as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors or SNRIs. Medications can help to manage symptoms and make it easier to get through daily activities.

Some research is investigating ways to prevent PTSD as well as examining whether genes or the brain may affect a person's reaction to a trauma. Some researchers are looking at how a normal response to stress could turn into PTSD and how it can be treated early.

If you suspect PTSD, it is important to seek out a medical professional. It is important to address issues that affect your daily life, such as difficulty relating to other people, or feeling frustrated and angry. Self-help can be helpful for some people with PTSD. They may benefit from talking about their experiences in therapy, or performing relaxation exercises such as deep breathing or a tempo-based exercise. They may also benefit from being able share their fears with a trusted person.

Depression

Depression can bring feelings of despair or sadness. Psychotherapy is a method to manage depression. It involves speaking with an expert about the issues you're experiencing. You could be prescribed medication to improve your mood. There are many types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavior therapy, which helps you overcome negative beliefs and habits and interpersonal therapy which concentrates on your relationships. There are also group therapies that bring people with the same problem together in a supportive environment.

The lawsuit claims that the VA has discriminated against Black veterans for years, by disproportionately rejecting disability compensation claims at a higher rate than white veterans. Conley Monk is a Vietnam War veteran, who has been trying to get medical benefits including housing, education and housing benefits for over 50 years. The suit was filed by Yale Law School's Veterans Legal Services Clinic, which represented Monk in his successful bid to reverse his less than honorable military discharge due to PTSD and other injuries.

The lawsuit asserts that racial discrimination within the military justice system affected the discharge status of Black service members, and that VA officials should have been aware of this prior to making decisions regarding disability compensation. The lawsuit cites research that discovered that between 2001 and 2020 the average rate of denials for Black veterans who applied for disability compensation was 29,5% in contrast to 24,2% for white veterans.