Post-Traumatic Combat Stress
With more and more combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the military community is seeing a sharp rise in the number of personnel diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and post-combat stress because of experiences they had in combat. PTSD, as it is commonly called, is the name for a collection of symptoms that follow combat veterans long after the event that triggered them. Considered an anxiety disorder, PTSD has both physical and psychological symptoms, including:
- Insomnia
- Trouble concentrating
- Quickness to anger or irritation
- Blackouts or memory loss
- Paranoia or hyper-vigilance to threats
- Recurring flashbacks or nightmares about the event
- Extreme avoidance of things and discussions that remind the victim of the event
Events that can trigger PTSD include many that are unfortunately common in combat, such as severe injury, a friend's death, a rape, hostage situations or torture. Witnessing or experiencing these can cause PTSD regardless of whether the victim is also physically wounded. These symptoms can last years or decades if untreated, resulting in disciplinary action, problems with interpersonal relationships, chronic fatigue from lack of sleep, drug or alcohol abuse or trouble holding down a civilian job.
Although the disorder was not named or well-understood until the 1970s, scientists believe PTSD has affected veterans of every war, sometimes under names like "shell shock," "combat fatigue" or "post-Vietnam syndrome." Because it is not a physical wound but can still dramatically affect its victims' lives, it has also been called a "silent wound." Unfortunately, that "silence" means the military is not good at diagnosing and treating PTSD. The burden of proof may be put on hurt servicemembers, or they may be accused of "malingering" to avoid work. In addition to denying them military benefits, these military policies can even result in disciplinary action against servicemembers affected by PTSD.
As a former Marine and an experienced California military criminal defense attorney, Joseph H. Low IV understands that combat veterans with PTSD face both personal and bureaucratic nightmares. He can represent you in any PTSD-related military justice problem, including:
- Helping establish proof of PTSD
- Appeals of denials of PTSD-related disability benefits, including denials that you are disabled at all as well as denials based on a "preexisting problem"
- Defending you against discipline or discharge for false claims of malingering
- Defending you against any military or civilian criminal charges stemming from or related to PTSD, including drug or alcohol charges, domestic violence, desertion/AWOL and violent crimes
Because the military has its own rules, its own courts and its own culture, it is essential to take on a military justice problem with an experienced military lawyer by your side. You may be assigned a JAG if you are accused of a crime -- but with so much at stake, it only makes sense to exercise your right to hire a civilian lawyer with the expertise you need. Protect your career, your family and your future by hiring ex-Marine and military defense lawyer Joseph H. Low IV. Joseph H. Low understands the military (and civilian) laws affecting your case and has a record of positive results when fighting for the rights of military servicemembers. If you're facing a military legal problem related to post-traumatic combat stress, contact Joseph H. Low IV today for a free consultation on your case.
