Why are Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans seeking PTSD disability compensation at unprecedented rates?

J Anxiety Disord. 2013 Jun;27(5):520-6. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.07.002. Epub 2013 Jul 26.

Abstract

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have produced historically low rates of fatalities, injuries, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among U.S. combatants. Yet they have also produced historically unprecedented rates of PTSD disability compensation seeking from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The purpose of this article is to consider hypotheses that might potentially resolve this paradox, including high rates of PTSD, delayed onset PTSD, malingered PTSD, and economic variables.

Keywords: Disability compensation; Malingering; PTSD; Veterans.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Afghan Campaign 2001-
  • Compensation and Redress*
  • Humans
  • Iraq War, 2003-2011
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • Veterans*
  • Work