There is a growing awareness regarding the potential mental health repercussions stemming from war-related trauma experienced by both civilians and veterans. However, the existing literature has thus far overlooked a crucial aspect: how observable psychological distress may or may not support claims of victimhood. The assertions of victimhood made by war veterans challenge the conventional binary classification (e.g., combatant/civilian) used to determine their eligibility for public health services, typically reserved for non-combatant populations. To shed light on this issue, we conducted a study using a representative sample of 697 former combatants from the Colombian Army. Our aim was to investigate whether established mental health outcomes resulting from exposure to war, such as increased aggression, hypervigilance, and post-traumatic stress disorder, correlate with claims of victimhood. Our findings provide evidence that such claims can be substantiated by a tangible psychological foundation. The adoption of a public health perspective on victimization status should lead to a more inclusive public policy approach to addressing the needs of war-affected populations.