- There's no question that service can make
quite a few changes to your body,
either physically or mentally.
In this segment we're gonna discuss
how to file a claim for depression,
and really mental disorders in general.
My name is Lori Underwood, and I'm with Woods and Woods.
Do you feel down and depressed?
Do you have anxiety?
Do you find that you're anxious, aggressive?
Do you find it hard to sleep?
You may be suffering from depression.
All of these are symptoms of mental disorders
which can be related to your military service.
They may also be service-connected
as in relation to your military service.
There are a few ways in which you can show
that your mental disorder is service connected.
Number one, it could have began during service.
It could also have preexisted service,
but has been aggravated beyond
a natural progression in service.
It could also be caused
by a service-connected physical condition.
This could be an example of a physical problem
which you've already received service-connection for,
that causes pain, limitations,
has physical effects on your life,
or even that you are prescribed medications for
which cause physical effects on your life,
and limitations.
This would be a secondary service-connection.
You would need medical evidence to show that
your physical condition is causing you mental anguish,
but this is a very common method of service-connection
for mental claims, as well as direct,
which began in service.
It's important to note that the VA law has established
that a claim for one mental disorder
is a claim for all mental disorders.
So maybe previously you have claimed anxiety,
and that claim is still on appeal.
But you have now been diagnosed with depression.
That's okay.
If you have a claim for anxiety, the VA has established that
that claim opens the door
for service-connection for depression.
Essentially, you can claim any mental disorder
and be service connected for the one you're diagnosed for
within the same claim.
So all for one, one for all.
A claim for anxiety is a claim for depression, PTSD,
bipolar disorder, the list goes on and on.
I will note that the VA generally does not
service-connect personality disorders,
but it does require additional evidence usually
to service-connect a personality disorder.
Mental health disorder ratings
can range anywhere from zero to 100%.
They're based on the symptomology of your disorder,
and the way that symptomology is reflected in severity.
And this can all be reviewed through the DSM.
The current version of the DSM in use by the VA
is the DSM 5, and that is the most current version.
You can review that at any point for mental disorders
to see what symptoms relate to which ratings.
How you deal with people in general
is a large part of your rating.
There are also many other factors,
and symptoms that factor into your rating,
and that's why your mental rating
can range from zero to 100%.
Zero would be having no effect on you
socially or occupationally.
100% would mean that you are totally occupationally
and socially impaired by your mental disorder.
The ratings can stop anywhere in between zero and 100,
but you do need and would have to have medical
and/or a lay person evidence to help you establish
your rating for your mental disorder.
Tips for filing your mental claim
is to be clear on what you think that you're filing for
whenever you file your mental claim.
Remember that a claim for one mental disorder
is a claim for all, so if you think that
you have anxiety and you're suffering
from your PTSD in service, or you're depressed
because of a service-connected physical limitation
that you're suffering from, make your claim.
If you're later diagnosed with a different
mental disorder in name from what you've claimed, it's okay.
As long as your claim is still active,
then you could be service-connected
for what your actual diagnosis is.
You are required to have a diagnosis to have
service-connection, and that's generally true
of almost any physical or mental disorder.
It's very common to have mental problems
as a result of service, whether it would be
direct or indirect from your physical problems
resulting from your time in service.
Don't hesitate to call the number below
so that we can help you with your mental claims.
It's a very common problem amongst
people who served their country,
and we have spent quite a bit of time helping them
with these service-connections
and increase ratings for these claims.