Noteboom The Law Firm

New Laws Help Female Veterans With PTSD

November 17, 2010 - Because women do not traditionally serve in combat roles, but rather support roles, they are usually not considered among those veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently changed its rules for those qualifying for PTSD, and these rules will significantly aid female veterans. Despite not being in combat roles, many female veterans still suffer from the classic symptoms of PTSD, which include:

• Nightmares;
• Migraine headaches;
• Panic attacks;
• Insomnia; and
• A general fear of crowds.  

The biggest problems facing female veterans to date is how PTSD has been diagnosed. Military doctors and the VA have required patients being able to point to specific traumatic occurrences that would cause PTSD in order to give a PTSD diagnosis. Without being deployed in combat roles, many female veterans could not point to this specific incident. Yet, they still suffered from PTSD.  

New rules no longer require veterans point to that specific traumatic event. Now PTSD screenings will be performed as long as they're requested. The VA is going to operate under the presumption that any PTSD symptoms were brought on by stress while the veterans were deployed. Once the PTSD is verified, the veterans will receive health care.

A greater percentage of female than male soldiers develop PTSD. It could possibly be because females do not develop the bonds men in combat develop even though female soldiers play important support roles in combat zones. This bond will sometimes serve to stifle the developing stress combat troops experience. Without it, troops are left with just stress, which is where many female veterans find themselves.

Regardless of where the stress originates, the VA should never tell a veteran suffering from PTSD they are not eligible for counseling.