Psychological injuries are among the most significant and most under-claimed categories in DBA practice. Many contractors who experienced traumatic events during overseas service — including witnessing violence, surviving vehicle accidents, or enduring prolonged exposure to threat environments — have never pursued claims for the psychological consequences.
What Events Qualify
PTSD claims do not require direct combat exposure. Witnessing a mass casualty event, surviving a vehicle-borne IED blast, experiencing a rocket attack on a base, witnessing the death or serious injury of colleagues, or being taken hostage are all recognised qualifying events. Less dramatic but cumulatively significant experiences — sustained threat environments, sleep deprivation, and operational stress over extended deployments — can also form the basis of a valid claim.
Traumatic Brain Injury
TBI is frequently associated with blast exposure and vehicle accidents. Many contractors who sustained concussive events during their service were never formally diagnosed at the time — field environments do not always permit thorough neurological assessment. Retrospective diagnosis based on contemporaneous records, witness accounts, and current neurological and neuropsychological evaluation can establish a valid TBI claim years after the triggering event.
The Dual Diagnosis Challenge
PTSD and TBI frequently co-occur, and the symptom overlap can complicate both diagnosis and valuation. A thorough neuropsychological evaluation that distinguishes and quantifies both conditions provides the strongest foundation for a claim that reflects the full extent of the claimant's disability.
Stigma and Under-Reporting
A significant proportion of contractors with genuine psychological injuries never come forward. Stigma, concerns about future employment security, and a belief that psychological injuries are not compensable are all barriers. DBA attorneys who develop intake processes that identify psychological symptoms — rather than waiting for claimants to volunteer them — will identify a significant number of otherwise-missed claims.