Bipolar Disorder Claims
The emotional and mental effects of serving on active duty in the US military can leave a veteran with long-term psychological conditions. If you were diagnosed with bipolar disorder during or after your time in uniform, you may qualify for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) disability compensation program.
However, obtaining these benefits involves a difficult process, and it may be necessary to appeal your claim to receive full payment. VetLaw’s team of experienced attorneys can help veterans prepare for filing bipolar disorder claims as well as filing a notice of disagreement upon receiving a denial.
Bipolar Disorder and Service in the Military
Serving in the military comes with many risks. Not least among these are the mental and emotional strains that can impact servicemembers’ minds. However, it can be difficult to connect a specific instance which occurred on active duty to a veteran’s chemical imbalance condition such as bipolar disorder. In fact, most successful bipolar disorder claims allege that active duty service made the claimant’s existing psychological condition worse.
According to the Mayo Clinic, bipolar disorder can result from exposure to high-stress situations. Additionally, episodes of mania or depression may become more common because of repetitive stress. It follows that active duty service in the military may cause a veteran’s underlying symptoms to rise to the surface or magnify and negatively affect their civilian life.
Pursuing VA Benefits
The VA’s disability compensation program offers benefits to veterans who sustained debilitating injuries while serving on active duty which now affect their civilian lives. However, obtaining these benefits can be difficult without the professional guidance of a steadfast VA-accredited lawyer. A successful bipolar disorder claim requires a former servicemember to prove several elements to the VA.
The first step to receiving compensation is proving that a veteran’s disabling condition is connected to their time on active duty. They must also demonstrate that their condition has a negative impact on their day-to-day life. For most bipolar disorder claims, it is essential to have a doctor and therapist document the frequency and severity of episodes as well and provide a medical nexus opinion which links the illness to your time in service.
Finally, a former servicemember must establish that they were discharged from the military under honorable conditions. There may be exceptions to this rule for veterans that are later diagnosed with a psychiatric illness, so contact VetLaw to discuss your situation before filing an appeal.
An Attorney Can Help You Appeal A Veteran Bipolar Disorder Claim Denial
Serving in the military can have a long-lasting effect on your mental health. Veterans whose pre-existing bipolar conditions worsened over the course of active duty service and those who have recently had symptoms come to the surface thereafter may be eligible for disability compensation.
A skilled VA-accredited attorney can help you collect benefits through the VA’s disability compensation program. VetLaw’s team can work to gather medical records on your behalf to demonstrate the severity of your condition. Next, they will explain the legal hurdles that may prevent a successful claim. Additionally, we can help file an appeal for a veteran bipolar disorder claim denial by the VA. Get in touch with our firm today to learn more about your legal options.
