Common Causes of PTSD in the Military

Post-traumatic stress disorder—or PTSD—is common among veterans. The harsh reality of military service and combat can have long-lasting consequences which may take years to manifest. If you are seeking a PTSD VA rating, understanding the common causes could be valuable.

Symptoms of PTSD are unfortunately common among veterans, and VA benefits can be difficult to secure without help. If your claim for a PTSD VA rating was denied, the team at Gang & Associates can assist you with your appeal.

Understanding the Common Causes of PTSD

Some of the circumstances that leave a veteran living with PTSD include the following:

Combat

Exposure to combat is one of the most common causes of PTSD among veterans. In fact, it has long been referred to as “combat stress.” The nature of combat results in the overwhelming feeling of stress and hyper-vigilance, especially among those who have faced the risk of harm or witnessed others killed in action.

Anyone deployed to a combat zone knows the constant stress and fear that comes with being a target. Spending weeks, months, or years with these high stress levels can cause lasting emotional damage.

Witnessing Violent Deaths

Dealing with the constant threat of death or injury can have a lasting impact on a person’s mental health, but that can pale in comparison to being present for the sudden or unexpected death of a friend or colleague. Combat can result in fatal injuries in the blink of an eye, and witnessing these events can follow you for the rest of your life.

Serious Accidents

Some of the worst injuries that occur on active duty have nothing to do with combat. Just like any place where vehicles or heavy machinery are present, the threat of an accident is very real on military bases. Injuries are common in accidents involving motor vehicles, military equipment, or even helicopters.

In fact, PTSD is common in serious accidents regardless of whether or not they involve a person serving on active duty. The impact of these collisions can be traumatic, with severe or even fatal injuries happening regularly.

Sexual Trauma

In the military, “sexual trauma” includes sexual assault or harassment that occurs during a victim’s military service. It can include any kind of sexual conduct that was not consensual, including:

• Unwanted, threatening sexual advances
• Comments of a lude or sexual nature
• Degrading comments about a person’s body or physical appearance
• Being coerced into sexual activity through force or intimidation
• Forcible sexual contact

PTSD for military sexual trauma is unfortunately common. VA disability benefits could be available for veterans with a PTSD diagnosis if they can establish that the event in question occurred during a qualifying form of service. This includes active duty, active duty training, inactive duty training, and while engaged in service-related activities—even when off base.

Factors That Can Impact PTSD Among Veterans

Understanding the causes of PTSD is only the first step. It is also helpful to have a picture of the factors that can increase the odds of a trauma response outside of the event that caused PTSD.

Repeated Tours of Duty

Although the reasons have not been confirmed, studies reflect that the risk of PTSD increases based on the number of tours a person serves. This is especially true for those who see combat. While not every veteran is the same, there are signs that repeated exposure to the stresses of active duty and being present in a war zone can have a cumulative effect that increases the odds of a PTSD response in the future.

PTSD and Genetics

A 2019 study of more than 200,000 people suggests that there is a genetic component to PTSD following traumatic events. According to the study, certain DNA variants are more strongly associated with the risk of PTSD than others. There are signs that male DNA may be more closely linked to this condition, and the same is true for certain ancestral backgrounds. While there are still plenty of questions to answer about how genetics can play a role in the severity of PTSD, there is substantial evidence that it has some degree of impact.

History of Childhood Trauma

Trauma can compound on a person over the course of their lifetime. This is especially true when difficult things occur during a veteran’s childhood. Even if those memories are repressed or dealt with during therapy, past trauma can increase the risk of a PTSD response among veterans who have experienced a traumatic event or loss while on active duty.

History of Substance Abuse

There are also signs that a history of substance abuse increases the risk of PTSD among veterans. In many cases, these conditions are co-occurring. For example, the onset of PTSD symptoms might lead a person to abuse drugs or alcohol. This can in turn increase the effects of PTSD. Often, the changes in the brain resulting from trauma are the same, which can increase the need for coping through alcohol or drugs.  

Speak to a Veterans Disability Attorney at Gang & Associates About Your PTSD VA Rating

These are only some of the common causes of PTSD in the military. The unfortunate reality is that post-traumatic stress disorder is common among veterans, especially those who have served in combat. What’s more, challenges in diagnosing this condition or linking to a person’s military service can lead to the denial of VA disability benefits.

If your claim for VA benefits has been denied, you still have the opportunity to recover compensation through the appeals process. An attorney from Gang & Associates can help you evaluate your options and determine the best path forward.

You have the opportunity to provide additional evidence on appeal, which could help you get the outcome you deserve. Instead of attempting to handle the appellate process alone, let our team pursue a PTSD VA rating on your behalf. Contact us as soon as possible to discuss your options.