PTSD vs Depression, WWII POWs in Michigan, Ross McGinnis MOH
March 03, 2021
This week on 4 Minutes With LHFV, Veterans Disability Attorney Jim Fausone will be discussing: the difference between PTSD and Depression VA disability claims; a Veterans Radio Podcast featuring University of Detroit-Mercy Professor Greg Sumner on the POWs brought to Michigan during World War II; and Ross McGinnis’ Medal of Honor from Home of Heroes.
PTSD vs. Depression
One of the many questions we receive at Legal Help For Veterans, PLLC is from clients and prospective clients about the difference between PTSD and Depression disability claims, and can you be rated for both?
You are right to be confused, in many cases, the symptoms are very similar, but there are a few key differences that separate PTSD and Depression claims.
Service-Connecting PTSD and Depression Claims
Depression
For a veteran to establish a service-connection for Depression, they must submit evidence including 1. A current diagnosis of depression; 2. An in-service event (not a stressor); 3. A medical nexus between the depression and in-service event.
It is important to note that the in-service event can include anything that’s specific to the veteran’s military service, occurring in the line of duty, or something unrelated to military service, but happens while the veteran is on active duty. A good example of this would be a family member passing away while a veteran was deployed and they began to experience depression as a result, this situation could still receive a service-connection.
PTSD
Establishing a service-connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a little different than a depression disability claim. To prove to VA that you are indeed suffering from PTSD, you must have 1. A current medical diagnosis of PTSD; 2. Evidence of an in-service stressor/traumatic event; and 3. A nexus letter linking your PTSD diagnosis to the in-service stressor.
Requiring an in-service stressor for service-connection of PTSD claims is often what separates them from Depression claims. A “stressor” is a traumatic event or incident that caused the veteran’s PTSD. In some cases, veterans will need to provide VA with evidence to corroborate the reported in-service event.
Veterans Radio Podcasts – WWII POWs in Michigan
Did you know in World War II, over 6,000 Prisoners of War were brought back to the state of Michigan? Professor Greg Sumner tells the story of the national program that brought over 425,000 POWs to the United States in this Veterans Radio Podcast.
At a time of labor shortages on the home front, German and Italian POWs picked fruit in Berrien County, harvested sugar beets in the Thumb, cut pulpwood in the Upper Peninsula, and maintained other public spaces in Detroit.
The work programs were not flawless, however, and not all the prisoners were cooperative, but many of the men established enduring friendships with their captors. Professor Gregory Sumner tells the story of these detainees and the ordinary Americans who embodied our highest ideals, even amidst a global war.
Professor Sumner is a scholar and history professor at the University of Detroit-Mercy, he has also uncovered the forgotten story of these prisoners of war and the farms, forests, and families they impacted.
Stream this Veterans Radio Podcast
Home of Heroes – Ross McGinnis MOH
We love sharing our collection of Heroes Stories from the Home of Heroes website, this story stood out to us because of the sheer heroism involved. Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis was serving as an M2 .50-caliber Machine Gunner when his team was attacked by armed enemies in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on December 4, 2006.
That afternoon, Private McGinnis’ platoon was conducting combat control operations to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While McGinnis was manning the machine gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner’s hatch into his vehicle.
Reacting quickly, McGinnis yelled “Grenade!”, allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the blast. Rather than leaping from the gunner’s hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew.
In a selfless act of bravery – for which he was mortally wounded – Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle, absorbing most of the explosion. McGinnis’ act of gallantry in the call of duty directly saved four men from certain death and serious injury.
Read Ross McGinnis’ Medal of Honor Citation on Home of Heroes
VA Disability Appeals | Legal Help For Veterans, PLLC
Thanks again for tuning into this week’s episode of 4 Minutes With LHFV, we will have more topics to discuss next week! In the meantime, do you want to hear Veterans Attorney Jim Fausone discuss different topics regarding the world of Veterans Affairs? Send us an Email about the VA disability topic you want us to tackle next!