[Tupelo]

re: Just like 85% of the ragged-ass teary-eyed fishing-hat with POW-MIA pin wearing “Vietnam Vets” at the Legion and getting a nice big check were never in theatre, I have come to believe that 85% of “PTSD” sufferers were never in remotely stressful situations and just want a meal ticket.

As a pre-Vietnam non combat vet, I tend to agree with your first sentence. Except there is NO “big check”.
Your sentence about PTSD is pretty over the top. I guarantee that EVERY man or woman who has “Seen the Elephant” has some form of PTS.(Not PTSD) I do not believe PTS is a disorder, just a conditon.. There is no way a normal human being can see the carnage of a battle field or even the carnage of a natural disaster and ever be the same again.
Don't believe me? Talk to adults that lived through some disaster as a child and just see how they are still affected.

[Popman]

-——Don’t believe me? Talk to adults that lived through some disaster as a child and just see how they are still affected. -——

Very true.... I lived though hurricane Andrew as an adult and the thought of a hurricane does make me very uneasy.....

[golux]

I strongly, strongly urge you to read STOLEN VALOR.
It is an absolute must read on this subject.
Sadly, the fact is - the FACTS are - that an astonishing number of claimants, almost all of whom are successful, are frauds. A massive number of “Vietnam Vets” on disability are frauds. And, as you probably know, a shocking number of the guys who hang out at The Wall, who are on TV, who have written books about secret ops, whose service is lauded, who talk about “Agent Orange” (Dude I was orange all over my skin for years! [uhh, it wasn’t orange...]) are frauds.
FRAUDS. All over.
Almost all the bums on the street are frauds. What Kerry undertook is more than a common theme.
My own service was extremely modest. I have the deepest love and respect for our combat heroes. But a lot of the PTSD guys - indeed most - are frauds.
It is a plain fact.