Most Veterans don’t realize how important or valuable a statement to support your claim is for their success. If you’re like me, and just fired off your claim the first time without any supporting documentation, then you are setting yourself up for failure. You are not establishing a point of reference for your VA Rater to work with.

Here’s a crucial step for you to file a winning claim for PTSD.

Starting information

The VA Form 21-0781 is the standard form for filing a claim for PTSD. The form asks for vital information to establish your service-connected PTSD through the means of a timeline. The form asks for specific details surrounding your claim. Besides the standard personal information about the filer, it asks:

• Unit Assignment during the incident
• Location of said incident
• Description of the incident
• Any medals or citations that may have been awarded 
• Any person who may have lost their lives during the incident

Any of these things could be used when establishing your connection to the event. You will have to enter this information twice because filing for PTSD in eBenefits you have to attach at stressor incident. I believe the VA is just looking for consistency in your involvement of the event.

Experience with Statement in Support of claims

When I was establishing my PTSD claim, I had some particular points that I pointed out about when and where I was during a certain point of my naval career. For example, I was stationed in a E-2C Hawkeye squadron that was attached to the USS George Washington. We, the GW, were called to action during September 11th, 2001 and I was asked to leave my home without notice and flown aboard the George Washington. The events surrounding that day and many others as I progressed in my naval career caused me some serious mental health issues. These issues were diagnosed as PTSD.

I knew I had issues about what I had experienced, but I didn’t know the first thing to do. I filed a claim that was immediately denied because I lacked the proper evidence. Once I had a medical diagnosis from Board Certified Psychologist and the help of my Veteran Coaches I was ready to give this one another go.     

Through the Elite program at VA Claims Insider, I was able to achieve a rating of 50% PTSD, from previously being rated at 0% PTSD. I am currently in the process of increasing my rating because I feel that I am still underrated for my PTSD.

Make sure you are doing filling out your statement to support your claim for every one of stressors! If you have any questions, please seek the advice of a Veterans Coach!

Overall, by including a Statement in Support of Claim you can give the VA a fuller picture to your experience in service and have another chance to tell your story. This can be a vital asset to your claim, and help to get you the compensation you deserve!

Terrell Murrell is apart of VA Claims Insider Team and a retired Navy Disabled Veteran. You can contact him at [email protected]