Ep. 4: Same Diagnosis, Different Decisions, Inside VA Claims

Episode 4 moves from clinic rooms to claims offices and rating decisions. It unpacks evidence that Black veterans are less likely to be granted VA disability benefits for the same diagnoses as White veterans, including PTSD and military sexual trauma–related PTSD. Listeners are guided through how inequity can creep in at every step: documentation, Compensation & Pension (C&P) exams, how “credibility” is judged, and how rules are interpreted. The episode connects these patterns to income, housing stability, access to care, and the emotional toll of being repeatedly disbelieved by the very system meant to support you. It also surfaces ideas for making the process more transparent, trauma-informed, and accountable to the veterans most likely to be harmed by gaps in the system.