PTSD is one of the toughest disabilities to prove to VA, we deal with veterans every day with this terrible condition. The researchers at the University of Michigan recently issued their findings, which supports a model for PTSD in which exposure to a traumatic event changes gene expression, which in turn, alters immune-system activity, leading to the disorder. So the traumatic event (stressor) causes a change in a veteran’s genes and then alters a normal immune system. Maybe this type of research, from my university, will someday be used by VA to recognize this is a real disability that affects a veteran’s body at the most basic cell level. Read about the research below.

http://michigantoday.umich.edu/2010/05/story.php?id=7739&tr=y&auid=6346997

After a decade of helping veterans, I have to say that we don’t see phonies who are trying to game the VA system. Although the critics of the VA often say there is rampant fraud, we see the legitimate vets who can’t prove service connection because of poor record keeping by the DOD. Sure in a government system as big as VA there are going to be fraudulent claims. But to suggest that PTSD is an easy claim to fraudulently make seems over the top. There is a recent AP article that will cause a new round of hardships for legitimate claimants as people clamor that more must be done to stop the fraud.

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/U/US_THE_WAR_WITHIN_FAKE_CLAIMS?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT