How Do You Link a Mental Disorder to Military Service in the VA Claims Process?
If a veteran is suffering from a mental disorder and wants to qualify for compensation, they must first prove through the VA claims process that the disorder is somehow related to their military service. This is not always a simple thing to do. In fact, in many cases veterans hire a disability lawyer to fight on their behalf.
The first step is to get the disorder diagnosed. While symptoms of certain mental disorders can often be seen by a layman, in order to qualify for VA compensation, the inflicted party must be diagnosed by a true expert in the field. This can come in the form of a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist.