Chicago veterans’ disability benefits lawyer Lawrence Disparti today urged U.S. veterans to heed new advice from the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs to get appropriate treatment for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

A recent report on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” said the military has changed its guidance on PTSD. The previous standard said that PTSD victims respond to the trauma with “helplessness and fear,” but the new guidance says members of the military may do the opposite. The new guidance says military men and women are likely to respond by “soldiering through” their pain.

The military and the VA are also allowing more service members to get treatment by giving the benefit of the doubt to any veteran or service member who shows signs of stress, the NPR report said.

“Military and Veterans Affairs officials have said they want to remove the stigma of a PTSD diagnosis and open the definition of PTSD to include any kind of stress so that more service members will seek medical treatment,” said Disparti, founder of the Chicago disability benefits law firm, Disparti Law Group, which has additional offices in Cleveland and the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.

The firm assists veterans with obtaining veterans’ disability benefits, including those connected to PTSD.

“Whether it’s PTSD or any other service-connected disability, veterans and active service members should seek out the help this country owes them,” Disparti said. “Those who have veterans in their lives whom they care about should encourage them to step forward for this assistance.”

PTSD is a reaction to a trauma or life-threatening event that may include upsetting memories of the event, increased jumpiness or trouble sleeping. It is increasingly reported in combat veterans, including those returning home from military duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

About 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience at least one trauma in their lives, the VA says. About 7 to 8 percent of the general population will have PTSD at some point in their lives.

Experts think PTSD occurs in about 11 to 20 percent of the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

While the opportunity for more veterans to get treatment is a positive development, Disparti said, handling a growing number of claims could also place a strain on the VA’s limited resources and lead to delays in claims.

“If there are any problems with the application, it could lead to an even longer delay in getting the benefits a veteran deserves,” Disparti said. “That’s why it’s extremely helpful to a new benefits applicant and/or their family members to have the assistance of an experienced veterans’ disability benefits attorney to guide them through the process.”

Disparti said his firm can advise veterans or their family members in Illinois of the appropriate documents to gather for a claim, help them locate records they don’t have on hand and review benefits claims prior to submission to ensure they are complete. The firm also helps veterans appeal negative claim decisions.

About Disparti Law Group, P.A.

Disparti Law Group, P.A., is a Chicago disability benefits law firm that provides legal assistance to individuals in cases involving Social Security Disability (SSD), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), railroad disability (FELA and RRB claims) and veterans’ benefits (including TSGLI claims). Additionally, the firm handles a variety of personal injury claims, including car accidents, slip-and-fall or premises liability, products liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death, nursing home neglect and inadequate security. The firm serves clients across the U.S., including Florida, Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee, Houston, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., and the Illinois communities surrounding Chicago, Joliet, Aurora, Naperville, Elgin, Schaumburg, Oak Lawn, Bolingbrook, Cicero and Wheaton. To learn more about the Chicago Social Security Disability lawyers of the Disparti Law Group, P.A., call (800) 633-4091 or use the firm’s online contact form.