While we have long known that PTSD is a significant concern for veterans in New York and around the country, a new report from the Department of Veterans Affairs suggests that the problem may be much bigger than expected.

PTSD can pose a yet another big challenge for many veterans after they return home from their tours of service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world. For some veterans, PTSD can also lead to depression and other mental health conditions. These vets may be entitled to disability benefits to help them make the transition back to civilian life after challenges of military service.

The new report says that more vets may experience PTSD-related challenges than previously anticipated. According to Veterans Affairs, almost 30 percent of Americans who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars since 9/11 received PTSD diagnoses. Some experts say that this reflects the experience of serving several deployments over the course of the last decade. Other studies have shown that soldiers who served more than one deployment were over three times more likely to develop PTSD or depression.

Some veterans might think that they will not receive disability benefits because mental health conditions are too hard to prove. This is not the case. An experienced disability attorney can help veterans get the assistance they need and deserve.

Source: Daily Beast, "Nearly 30% of Vets Treated by V.A. Have PTSD," Jamie Reno, Oct. 21, 2012