newsletter articles

MAY 2011

A Soldier’s Battle with PTSD

Specialist J.T. served in the United States Marine Corps in 1998 and in the United States Army from 2005-2007, including service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In December 2006, while serving in Iraq, he was injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near his vehicle. The attack killed several of his fellow service members and rendered him unconscious. He awoke with his clothes and face covered in blood. He sustained a concussion and superficial wounds. Once back in the U.S., he began experiencing migraine headaches, memory loss, frequent nightmares and severe mood swings. He knew something was very wrong, nonetheless his behavior and symptoms wreaked havoc on his marriage and a divorce ensued. After a battery of physical and mental health exams, the veteran was diagnosed with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Shortly thereafter, J.T. filed a claim for disability benefits. Although a portion of his claim was denied, he was awarded benefits for service-connected PTSD, and he began receiving monthly payments of approximately $720.

In 2008, the veteran reached out to NVLSP to request help through the Lawyers Serving Warriors program. NVLSP staff attorneys performed a complete review of his military medical and VA claims file records. After evaluating his case, NVLSP determined that a portion of his claim was incorrectly denied and asked attorneys from the Hartford, CT office of Brown Rudnick LLP to provide pro bono legal representation before the VA.

NVLSP provided the firm with analysis and advice on how to help J.T. obtain the benefits he deserved. With the pro bono help of Brown Rudnick LLP attorneys Jeffery Matrullo, Michael Camilleri, and Steve Klaffky, as well as NVLSP staff attorney Matthew Sadler, J.T. submitted a request to increase his disability rating in 2009. The VA, recognizing its error, granted an increase in disability benefits to 100 percent, which included a grant of retroactive benefits totaling about $40,000. The decision also increased the veteran’s monthly payments to approximately $2,673.