Following The Impact Of PTSD Through The Years
The impact of PTSD through the years has been mirrored in the motion picture business. 2019’s Rambo: Last Blood ended the John Rambo saga. When the character, Rambo, first appeared in 1982’s First Blood, PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder tormented him. He was unable to control his own actions. Over the years, Rambo morphed into a war hero and a dedicated family man. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder itself has gone through a similar evolution, as outlined below.
Many combat Veterans struggle with PTSD for the rest of their lives. Doctors recently discovered that exposure to combat stress erodes the cerebral cortex and enlarges the amygdala. The resulting chemical imbalance produces PTSD symptoms, such as hypervigilance, depression, and anger. Since PTSD is a physical brain injury, a VA benefits attorney has a number of legal options in terms of benefits available.
Civil War
American combat soldiers first experienced PTSD in large numbers in the Civil War. Advances in military technology, mostly the rifled musket, contributed greatly to this development.
During previous conflicts in the 1700s and 1800s, soldiers on both sides typically used smooth bore muskets. Those weapons had a maximum range of about 300 yards. And, they were not very reliable. So, massed charges against fixed positions often succeeded because the attacking troops were only exposed to limited enemy fire.
The introduction of the rifled musket in 1835 by Casimir Lefaucheux changed things. These weapons were much more reliable and had an effective range of about 600 yards. So, massed charges against fixed positions were almost suicidal. Nevertheless, commanders on both sides of the Civil War, which began in 1861, ordered such charges for the duration of the conflict.
Other military tech “advances” included the Minie ball (1849) and the repeating rifle (1854). The Minie ball was essentially a miniature Howitzer shell which was much more destructive than the smaller led slugs in previous muskets. Repeating rifles, which were widely used by Union forces later in the war, gave troops many times more firepower than breech-loading muskets.
From the earliest days of the war, doctors diagnosed a large number of soldiers with “nostalgia”, which they believed was an acute form of homesickness. Symptoms included depression, sleeplessness, and hypervigilance.
Although these soldiers likely suffered from combat-related PTSD due to the advanced weapons they faced, doctors usually said that vigorous offensive campaigns cured nostalgia. Of course, that treatment just made these injuries worse.
World War I
Other military advances contributed to a large number of “shell shock” cases in the Great War. The switch from picric acid to TNT is a good example. Until about 1905, the world’s armies typically used picric acid in their cannons. This substance is basically the same ingredient in fireworks. Beginning with the Imperial German Army, belligerents switched to TNT, which is many times more explosive and still in use today.
Poison gas, especially deadly chlorine and mustard gases, also affected soldiers. Frequently, the threat of a gas attack was more stressful than the attacks themselves. These stresses can cause the aforementioned chemical imbalances.
From PTSD to OSI
The cerebral cortex controls logical responses, and the amygdala controls emotional responses. Think about a rider and a horse. If the rider loses control of the horse, the horse often goes wild. Similarly, when PTSD Veterans experience stressful situations, they often cannot deal with the stress logically. Emotions take over.
Because of this science, the Canadian Armed Forces recently replaced the PTSD designation with “Operational Stress Injury”. OSI victims are entitled to a Service Medal, which is the Canadian equivalent of a Purple Heart.
The DoD has not adopted this stance. However, the VA handling of PTSD matters has evolved. Many more benefits may now be available to the victims. Unfortunately, recognizing PTSD symptoms is not something many doctors have extensive experience in. Effective representation in these claims is essential to ensure the disability is thoroughly addressed.
Connect with Tenacious Attorneys
Substantial VA benefits may be available to PTSD victims. For a free consultation with an experienced Veterans disability lawyer in San Diego, contact Cameron Firm, PC at 800-861-7262, or fill out the contact box to your right. We are here to represent Veterans nationwide.
This article is for educational and marketing purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship.
