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VA Compensation for
Post-traumatic
Stress
Disorder - PTSD
Signs
and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder typically
begin within three months of a traumatic event. In a
small number of cases, though, PTSD symptoms may not
occur until years after the event.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms are commonly
grouped into three types: intrusive memories, avoidance
and numbing, and increased anxiety or emotional arousal
(hyperarousal).
Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:
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Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for
minutes or even days at a time
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Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
Get the help you need! PTSD claims are not a
do-it-yourself endeavor. It is important that your claim
be prepared as well as possible. If improperly prepared
or documented, your claim is likely to fail. Depending
on why it failed, your claim may damage your ability to
successfully appeal a bad decision or to win approval in
a subsequent claim. A claim that has been filed
incorrectly is as useless to you and your family as a
claim that was never filed.
If you have PTSD, your disability may make it unlikely
that you can weather the frustration of dealing with the
VA and objectively respond to its requests for
information. A claim that has been abandoned by a
frustrated veteran is as useless to him and his family
as a claim that was never filed.
The various veterans service organizations (VSO) provide
free claims assistance. Try to find a person to help you
who is familiar with PTSD and has handled successful
claims for compensation for PTSD.
West Nile Virus Facts
According to CDC, when dealing with West Nile virus,
prevention is your best bet. Fighting mosquito bites
reduces your risk of getting this disease, along with
others that mosquitoes can carry. Take the commonsense
steps below to reduce your risk:
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avoid bites and illness;
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clean out the mosquitoes from the places where you
work and play;
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help your community control the disease.
Something to remember:
The chance that any one person is going to become ill
from a single mosquito bite remains low. The risk of
severe illness and death is highest for people over 50
years old, although people of all ages can become ill.
Use Insect Repellent
on exposed skin when you go outdoors. Use an
EPA-registered insect repellent such as those with DEET,
picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Even a short time
being outdoors can be long enough to get a mosquito
bite.
Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites
When weather permits, wear long-sleeves, long pants and
socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin
clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent containing
permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent will give
extra protection. Don't apply repellents containing
permethrin dir
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Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours
The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting
times for many species of mosquitoes. Take
extra care to use repellent and protective
clothing during evening and early morning -- or
consider avoiding outdoor activities during
these times.
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Drain Standing Water
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the
number of places around your home for mosquitoes to
breed by getting rid of items that hold water.
Install or Repair Screens
Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside
by having well-fitting screens on both windows and
doors. Offer to help neighbors whose screens might be in
bad shape.
Report Dead Birds to Local Authorities
Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile virus is
circulating between birds and the mosquitoes in an area.
Over
130 species of birds are known to have been infected
with West Nile virus, though not all infected birds will
die. It's important to remember that birds die from many
other causes besides West Nile virus.
Mosquito Control Programs
Check with local health authorities to see if there is
an organized mosquito control program in your area.
Clean Up
Mosquito breeding sites can be anywhere. Neighborhood
clean up days can be organized by civic or youth
organizations to pick up containers from vacant lots and
parks, and to encourage people to keep their yards free
of standing water. Mosquitoes don't care about fences,
so it's important to control breeding sites throughout
the neighborhood. For more information:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm
Source: Center for Disease Control
(CDC)
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