Assessing Combat Exposure and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
in Troops and Estimating the Costs to Society
Implications from the RAND Invisible Wounds of War Study
http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/2009/RAND_CT321.pdf
‘Major depression is often not considered a combat-related injury;
however, our analyses suggest that it is highly associated with
combat exposure and should be considered in the spectrum of
post-deployment mental health consequences.’
‘Assuming that the prevalence found in this study is representative of
the 1.64 million servicemembers who had been deployed for OEF/OIF
as of October 2007, we estimate that as of April 2008 approximately
303,000 OEF/OIF veterans were suffering from PTSD or major depression.
We also found that some specific groups, previously underrepresented in
studies — including the Reserve Components and those who have
left military service—may be at higher risk of suffering from
these conditions.
Vicariously experienced traumas (e.g., having a friend who was
seriously wounded or killed) were the most frequently reported.
About 10-15% of OEF/OIF veterans reported NO trauma exposures,
and about 15-20 percent reported exposure to just ONE event
(largely death or injury of a friend), so most (close to 75 percent)
reported multiple exposures
.Compare these findings to those of the ALJ’s who are giving these
cases to AIG and CNA The DBA X Files
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Administrative Law Judges, AIG, ALJ, ALJ's, CNA, DBA Attorneys, Defense Base Act, Invisible Wounds of War, ptsd
How come these wartime exposures are recognized as causal PTSD traumas in the real world but routinely rejected and belittled by ALJs?
Having a friend who was seriously wounded or killed 49.6%
Seeing dead or seriously injured non-combatants 45.2%
Witnessing an accident resulting in serious injury or death 45.0%
Smelling decomposing bodies 37.0%
Being physically moved or knocked over by an explosion 22.9%
Being injured, not requiring hospitalization 22.8%
Having a blow to the head from any accident or injury 18.1%
Being injured, requiring hospitalization 10.7%
Engaging in hand-to-hand combat 9.5%
Witnessing brutality towards detainees/prisoners 5.3%
Being responsible for the death of a civilian 5.2%
The difference is in the VA hospital it is being reconized. But for the VA benefits it is very hard still to get what you should be getting.
I know many that have been fighting many years to see their benefits. I am won of them. I don’t think I will ever see them. I have given up on them. That is what the VBA wants us to do. Just like the insurance companies do.
The difference is that as a VET we have no choice in our fight with the goverment. We fight people with no medical background and are not allowed lawyers. Are not given proper notice of appeals and if something should happen to us on the day of the appeal we have no way to let them know.
At least we are starting to see a difference in one side of the fight for PTSD at least it is now being seen for what it is. I will not give up on the fight. For our Contractors.