Military PTSD Claims

Military PTSD is a mental injury caused by stressful or frightening events. It can arise from a single incident or from a culmination of events and does not necessarily have to be the result of a direct combat situation.

PTSD can develop after either experiencing or witnessing something traumatic. It is a psychological injury and does not necessarily have to be the result of a direct physical injury to you either. To make a claim you will first need

to get a diagnosis from a consultant clinical psychologist or consultant psychiatrist. This is essential under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) in establishing the nature and extent of your symptoms.

In the armed forces, a level of risk is unavoidable. The MoD has a duty of care to minimise risk, as well as provide adequate training and resources for its servicemen and women. It should also ensure there is support in place for its personnel like you if there is the danger of them developing PTSD after a particularly stressful event.

That said, the AFCS is a no-fault compensation scheme, which means that you don’t have to prove that the MoD was at fault when you claim. PTSD affects many service personnel and is not necessarily the result of any wrongdoing.

If you believe you have developed PTSD as a result of negligence on the MoD’s part, it may be better for you to make a civil compensation claim, rather than claiming through the AFCS.

Hundreds of servicemen and women like you have been able to claim compensation for military injuries with the help of our specialist military solicitors. If you are suffering from PTSD after your service in the UK Army, Navy, RAF or Special Forces, you may be able to claim compensation. You could also claim if you have experienced PTSD after serving in the Army Reserve (formerly the Territorial Army), Navy, RAF or Special Forces Reserves.

We have an in-depth knowledge of the AFCS and the process of collecting evidence to make sure you get the outcome you deserve. While the AFCS is designed to be a transparent and accessible scheme, the reality can be more complex.

You can count on our expert knowledge to help you present your claim in the best way, making the process as smooth as possible and minimising delays from the start.

We will fight to get you compensation that fully represents the effect of your PTSD on your and your family’s life. We have access to specialist medical experts who can provide the evidence needed to maximise your claim, as well as numerous links with charities, care and support agencies to help get you the support and rehabilitation you need.

No, compensation from the AFCS comes out of a designated budget, so any money you receive won’t affect your unit. You can be guided from start to finish through the application process by our expert military lawyers, some of whom are ex-service personnel themselves.

AFCS compensation is based on a tariff system, so your amount will be determined by the severity of your injury. For a mental injury, the minimum compensation is £3,000, while the maximum is £140,000.

This is paid as a lump sum, but any award of £15,500 or above will also come with a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP). This is a percentage of your final salary, paid tax-free for life, and adjusted to reflect inflation over the years. The GIP percentage can range from 30% to 75% and is very often the most valuable aspect of any compensation.

We have extensive experience navigating the AFCS and will ensure that all aspects of your claim are maximised, including the lump sum, and GIP.