Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur after a veteran has been through a traumatic event while serving in the military. Below is a list of some of the traumatic events that veterans can experience but this list is by no means all inclusive:

• Combat attacks/exposure
• Child sexual or physical abuse
• Terrorist attacks
• Sexual or physical assault
• Serious accidents, such as a car wreck
• Natural disasters, such as a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood or earthquake

During these types of traumatic events listed above, you may think that you are going to die or that your life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening.  After the event, you may feel scared, confused and angry. If these feelings don't go away or they get worse, you may have PTSD.

Symptoms of PTSD

SOME symptoms of PTSD are:

• Recurring memories, dreams or flashbacks of the traumatic event
• Reduced involvement in work or outside interests
• Emotional numbness
• Jumpiness, irritability, startles easily or constantly on alert
• Have little or no friends or stay to yourself a lot
• Problems falling or staying asleep - insomnia
• Marital or family problems
• Excessive use of alcohol or drugs to cope
• Anger issues or road rage
• Having anxiety issues or being depressed
• Avoiding talking, thinking or suppressing feelings about the traumatic event
• Avoiding places or things that remind you of the traumatic event

The list of symptoms above are by no means all inclusive.  If you have some of these symptoms and think you might have PTSD, talk to a mental health professional right away!

Filing a Disability Compensation Claim With The VA For PTSD

Because of the complexity of these types of claims, it is highly suggested that you contact Tarrant County Veteran Services to receive assistance in filing a well-developed PTSD claim as there are many factors associated with this type of claim.

Most of the time, PTSD is often not diagnosed in service and will not be shown specifically in the veteran's military medical records. However, this does not automatically thwart any chances of successfully receiving an approval of the veteran's claim for PTSD from the VA. 

In order to better the chances of having your claim approved, expert research and development must be done to make that happen.  This is where the Tarrant County Veteran Service office comes in.  We have trained counselors on staff that can assist you with this process.  Contact us at
817-531-5645.

VA Programs And Resources For Veterans With PTSD

This list is not all inclusive

1. VA PTSD Program Locator - This program locator will help you find local VA PTSD programs. You can also call the VA Hospital in Dallas at 800-849-3597 or the VA clinic in Fort Worth at 800-443-9672 to find a program in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
2. The National Center for PTSD Website - This website contains in-depth information on PTSD and traumatic stress. You can find answers to frequently asked questions About PTSD; fact sheets on common reactions; information about the effects of trauma on family and friends; and much more.
3. Prolonged Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy - The VA provides at least one of two evidence-based treatments for PTSD at all VA Medical Centers.
4. Vet Centers - Vet Centers are located in your community and stand ready to help you and your family with readjustment counseling and outreach services. Services include individual and group counseling, marital and family counseling, medical and benefits referrals and employment counseling. There are two Vet Centers in Tarrant County and one in Dallas County. The phone numbers for the two in Tarrant County are 817-274-0981 for the Pantego location and 817-921-9095 for the Fort Worth location. The phone number for the Dallas location is 214-361-5896.
5. MakeTheConnection.net - Visit this site to view hundreds of stories from veterans of all service eras who have overcome mental health challenges. MakeTheConnection.net is a one-stop resource where veterans and their families and friends can privately explore information on mental health issues, hear fellow veterans and their families share their stories of resilience and easily find and access the support and resources they need.
6. After Deployment - This site is a behavioral health resource supporting service members, their families and veterans with common post-deployment challenges. Their mission is to provide self-care solutions targeting PTSD, depression and other behavioral health challenges.
7. Real Warriors - This site is part of the Real Warriors Campaign, launched to promote the process of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning service members, veterans and their families. The site contains information for a number of audiences including veterans, active duty servicemembers, families and health professionals.

Resources For Families

1. Children And Teens Web Resources - This web page provides a list of links that offer information specific to children and teenagers dealing with trauma.
2. Seasame Workshop "When Families Grieve" - "When Families Grieve" is a continuation of Sesame Workshop’s award-winning Talk, Listen, Connect Initiative, providing resources and emotional support to military families with young children coping with a challenging life transition.