You can play an important role in enabling veterans to access their VA benefits and pursue claims for disability compensation. Your diagnoses and assessments can help provide the evidence that veterans need to document that their conditions are related to their military service. Legally you are allowed to disclose the necessary information that abides by the applicable medical privacy laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Substance Abuse Act.

This is especially helpful in establishing service-connected PTSD, which is considered presumptively service connected if the veteran is diagnosed with PTSD and served under circumstances consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD. This is an important improvement to the regulations as hard documented evidence of a traumatic stressor is often unavailable. We will discuss nexus letters and other documentation that veterans may need in their VA claims in our chapter on Accessing VA Benefits and Care.

Recommended viewing:
Swords to Plowshares in partnership with CalVet developed curriculum for behavioral health providers on veteran culture and possible behavioral health needs of veterans. You can view the training here: