Ptsd Symptoms And Treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder , or post-traumatic stress injury , is an anxiety disorder that usually occurs after a person has been involved in a traumatic event, such as military combat, sexual assault, childhood abuse, severe car accident, or a natural disaster. Those with PTSD commonly experience nightmares, flashbacks, or panic attacks that seriously interfere with everyday life. Some people will think obsessively about their past trauma, while others will become emotionally numb and avoid thinking about it at all costs. PTSD is also commonly characterized by:
- feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or shame
- difficulty concentrating or remembering things
- anger and irritability
- trouble sleeping, and
- excessive anxiety or fear.
While almost all people who live through a trauma will experience some degree of shock or fear as a result, those with PTSD have long-lasting, severe symptoms that tend to worsen over time if left untreated. Treatment for PTSD often includes some combination of medication, counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or psychotherapy.
Get Help From Our Alabama Veterans Benefits Attorneys Today
If you think you may be eligible for disability benefits on the basis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or other service-related disabilities, contact Cox Disability Law, LLC, today. We offer a free consultation, and we take no attorney fees unless we win benefits for you. Contact us online, or call 800-930-1205 or 205-870-1205 in Birmingham.
Does Ptsd Qualify Veterans For Social Security Disability
Suffering Post-traumatic Stress Disorder may qualify many veterans for Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI benefits. Several behavioral or psychological symptoms are associated with PTSD, including heightened agitation, hostility, social isolation, self-destructive behavior, insomnia, loss of interest in usual activities and even suicidal thoughts.
Treatment of PTSD may involve therapy, medication or even a combination of both. PTSD cannot always be successfully treated and may be severe enough to prevent a veteran from holding a job or performing tasks they were capable of before experiencing trauma.
Veterans with PTSD may also be able to receive compensation for suffering from their service. Unfortunately, this process can be complicated as it involves several different government agencies.
The Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI is a federal program intended to supplement the income of citizens who are physically incapable of regular employment. Veterans who may suffer from PTSD also have benefits available through the Department of Veterans Affairs or VA.
Both Social Security and the VA pay disability benefits. Veterans may qualify for both VA benefits and SSDI benefits. Each agency has its eligibility and payment amounts however, the VA benefits are income-based, which can disqualify a veteran from receiving SSDI benefits.
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For Qualified Veterans Ptsd Is A Disability Under Social Security
In many cases, a veteran may be eligible for SSDI, in conjunction with, or as an alternative to VA disability compensationif the Social Security Administration finds you are unable to work.
Like the VA, the SSA is a federal agency with its own purpose, eligibility requirements, definition of disability, and payment amounts. So it is important to know how these two disability programs differ and interact.
SSA has recently issued major revisions to its Listing of Impairments for Section 12.00 Mental Disorders, including a new listing for posttraumatic stress disorder. Previously classified as an anxiety disorder, as of January 2017, PTSD is listed under the new Section 12.15, Trauma- and stressor-related disorders.
Qualifying For Va Disability Helps Your Ssdi Claim
The Social Security Administration will take a VA disability approval into consideration when evaluating your SSDI claim. As mentioned previously, high VA disability approval ratings usually mean youll be approved for SSDI benefits. The same unfortunately cannot be said for SSDI approval and a VA disability claimbecause you must have been disabled while on active duty to get VA disability, the VA will usually not take an SSDI approval into consideration when evaluating your claim.
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Information Coordination Between Va And Ssa
The Department of Veterans Affairs and SSA are required by law to share certain information relevant to making claims with both entities:
- Medical evidence
- Disability determinations
- Benefit receipt and payment amounts
However, its not safe to assume that the medical evidence you are required to submit as part of an application for Social Security benefits will be handled by the VAalways submit all relevant documents and evidence as part of your original application package or with timing required by the VA or SSA.
You never know if your medical information has gotten misplaced, and it may not be as complete as your own personal recordsalways take the initiative and submit all your evidence as though no other records were kept. Its more efficient and unless you are instructed to apply in a different way, it prevents bureaucratic delays, red tape, etc.
How Can You Get A Medical
As you can see, its not easy to satisfy the disability listing requirements for PTSD. Many applicants are not able to provide sufficient medical documentation to meet these requirements. Fortunately, there is one other way to obtain SSDI benefits for PTSD.
If you cannot satisfy the listing requirements, the SSA will evaluate your condition to determine if it is severe enough to prevent you from performing the work you did previously. If you are still able to perform work you did previously, you do not meet the SSAs definition of disabled. But if you cannot perform the work you did previously as a result of your PTSD, the SSA will need to determine if you can perform any type of work at all.
The SSA considers many factors when determining whether you can perform any type of work, including your prior work history, education, special skills, and training. If the SSA believes it is possible for you to find work despite your PTSD, they will not approve your application for benefits. But if the SSA believes your PTSD makes it impossible for you to perform any type of work you are qualified for, you may be approved for benefits.
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Not Submitting The Information Social Security Requests
Most claimants hate the tedious forms Social Security and the Office of Disability sends them to complete. Oftentimes, the same forms are sent at the second level of a claim as the first. Claimants wont complete these forms because they feel they have already answered the questions.
This is a mistake. When you dont send the information Social Security is requesting, they will delay the processing of their claim. This could have additional negative consequences on your claim.
Work Requirements For Va Disability And Ssdi Approval
As most vets already know, your injury must be sustained while on active duty to qualify for VA disability. This is not true for SSDI benefitsyou could qualify for SSDI for an illness that happened at any time. You will however be required to have paid enough Social Security taxes throughout adulthood to qualify for SSDI. The amount of taxable income earned to qualify will vary depending on your age, but the vast majority of veterans will qualify if they apply for SSDI immediately after finishing their service.
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What If The Veteran Cannot Work Due To Post
Another way to earn a 100% PTSD rating is for the veteran to receive unemployability for his PTSD. Unemployability is not on the PTSD rating schedule. IU is a way for the veteran to receive 100% without meeting all the requirements on the 100% rating.
The VA grants IU ratings when a veteran cannot work due to his service-connected disabilities. When the VA gives an Unemployability rating for PTSD, it means a veteran cannot work due to his PTSD. As a result, a veteran receives a 100% PTSD rating due to unemployability.
Using The Rfc If You Do Not Meet Blue Book Requirements
The Social Security Administration will use their set of medical guidelines, commonly known as the Blue Book, to determine whether your condition qualifies you for disability benefits. If you are found to be able to work, either in a modified setting at your current job or in another position that accommodates your condition, then you will not be eligible for benefits.
In some cases, your medical condition will not be enough to meet the medical guidelines listed in the Blue Book, but you are still unable to work. This is where the residual function capacity form will come into play.
The RFC determines the maximum amount of work that you are able to perform given your condition. Your doctor will be the one to complete the form, and this is beneficial for your case because it is an opportunity to present information specific to your condition directly to the SSA.
Your doctor is likely the one who diagnosed you and was the one to develop your treatment plan, so he or she can explain how you are actually doing and what issues have come about that prevent you from performing certain tasks.
You should inform your doctor of your intent to file an application for disability benefits as early as possible so that the RFC can be completed and submitted quickly. In many cases where a diagnosis is not enough to qualify for benefits, the RFC is the most important document in the claim.
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What You Need To Know About Social Security Disability Benefits
The first and most important thing to understand about these benefits is that you cant be in a hurry to be approved for themthe process can take five months or more depending on a variety of factors.
SSD benefits are paid with the understanding that the applicant may experience an improvement in their condition SSD is paid until the recipient is able to work again in cases where there is improvement. Those with conditions that do not improve will continue to get SSD benefits as long as that is true.
Social Security Disability For Ptsd
Post-traumatic stress disorder , which can develop after exposure to an extremely traumatic event, is not uncommon. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs , approximately eight million adults have PTSD during a given year. Many people with PTSD respond well to treatments however, for others, the symptoms the nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety attacks, and persistent, paralyzing fears remain.
Those whose symptoms greatly affect their daily affairs and who are not responsive to treatment may be able to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. To determine eligibility for Social Security disability for a post-traumatic stress disordercall our disability lawyers at Lunn and Forro, PLLC at and request a free consultation.
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Social Security Application Assistance
Veterans who are applying for Social Security Disability benefits may become overwhelmed by the process and may want assistance with their application. Americans are allowed to appoint a qualified representative to represent them on their behalf throughout the SSAs disability application process. The issue is that the SSA wrongfully denies qualified applicants and less than 20% of all applicants are actually approved for benefits. Generally denials occur when the applicant improperly filed an application, didnt provide enough medical evidence of the condition, or is currently making too much in earned and/or unearned income .
Experienced Disability Advocates or Attorneys have much higher approval rates with some up as high as 70% at the initial stage of the application process. Advocates and Attorneys have expertise in dealing with the SSA and know what exactly what the SSA looks during the application process. If you would like assistance in filling out an application for Social Security Disability benefits, contact the Disability Care Center for help at 723-4650.
Ial Vs Full Disability
One of the biggest differences between VA Disability and SSDI benefits is the severity of your disability needed to qualify. Veterans can receive VA disability with a 10% disability rating. This is not the case for SSDI applicantsyou will need to prove that youre fully disabled to receive benefits from the Social Security Administration. Most veterans with a disability rating of 70% or above will qualify. In fact, if your disability rating is 100% P& T, the SSA will expedite your claim for quick processing. Your claim will also be expedited if you served in the military on or after October 1, 2001.
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Your Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Disability Case
If you are disabled because of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that is severe enough to prevent you from working, you may be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income .
You can learn more by filling out a quick and free evaluation form regarding your case.
Working closely with medical professionals and a qualified Social Security disability attorney or disability advocate to collect and present the appropriate documentation to support your disability claim in front of the Disability Determination Services can help to ensure that your Post Traumatic Stress Disorder disability case will have the highest possible chance of success.
Advantage Receipt And Instalment Sums
In any case, its undependable to expect that the clinical proof you needed to submit as a feature of an application for Social Security advantages will be taken care of by the VAconsistently present every single important archive and proof as a component of your unique application bundle or with timing needed by the VA or SSA.
No one can say with any certainty if your clinical data has gotten lost, and it may not be just about as complete as your very own recordsconsistently step up to the plate and present all your proof like no different records were kept. Its more proficient and except if you are told to apply in an unexpected way, it forestalls administrative postponements, formality, and so on
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What Is The Family And Medical Leave Act
If your employer is covered by this scheme, this act allows employees, under certain circumstances, to take a maximum of three months of leave within a year. During this period, theyre protected from losing their job.
This leave can be for severe medical conditions such as PTSD. Families of people who have served can also take 26 weeks of leave over a year to care for the service member if they have a significant condition like PTSD.
Getting Help With Your Post
PTSD is still not widely understood yet can be a debilitating disease that prevents you from working or performing normal, everyday tasks. Having a highly experienced SS disability attorney from Carmichael Law Group by your side can truly make a difference in the outcome of your application or appeal. We know exactly what documentation the SSA is looking for as well as the medical records necessary to be successful. We fight for your disability benefits because we believe you deserve an experienced, compassionate advocate in your corner during this difficult time. Contact Carmichael Law Group, LLC today.
Contact us today for your FREE initial consultation.
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Qualifying For Expedited Ssdi Benefits
While more than 800,000 veterans continue to wait for their SSDI benefits claims to be approved, you might be eligible for expedited SSDI benefits. Veterans who became disabled after October 1, 2001 might be able to acquire their SSDI benefits through an expedited claims process. If this is approved for your case you might be able to begin earning benefits within a few weeks.
In order to receive expedited SSDI benefits, you will need to have a 100 percent Permanent and Total disability compensation rating from the VA. Again, the 100 percent P& T rating does not guarantee you will receive expedited benefits, but it will improve your chances. Take the following steps if you are 100 percent P& T:
- File an application for SSDI benefits online
- Send a copy of the VA notification letter
- Acquire and submit copies of your medical records to the SSA
- Provide the SSA with any additional documentation it requests
As with any other legal issue, you should have an experienced Social Security disability lawyer review your case and help you file an application for benefits to improve your chances of success.
Is Ptsd A Disability
The Social Security Administration recognizes that symptoms from PTSD can prevent you from working. For example, you might have recurring flashbacks and nightmares that can disrupt your daily routine. Other symptoms of PTSD can include:
- angry outbursts
- extreme fear that the traumatic event will happen again
- being overly alert and aware of your surroundings , and
- a tendency to be easily startled.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s best to contact a psychologist or psychiatrist to determine whether you have a post-traumatic stress disability such as PTSD or PTSI. Your doctor will conduct a “mental status examination,” where you’ll answer questions about your history, your current mood, and your thought process. Your answers will help your doctor make the right diagnosis.
Doctors offer many ways to treat PTSD. Your doctor will likely recommend that you see a counselor or therapist. A therapist can help you develop stress management skills to better handle your PTSD symptoms. Your doctor can also recommend antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications to improve any problems you might have with sleep or concentration.
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Coordination Between Va And Ssa
VA and SSA are required by law to share the following types of information:10
- Medical evidence and hospital records.
- Disability determinations.
- Benefit receipt and payment amounts.
In processing a DI claim, a DDS requests the medical evidence it deems necessary from service providers. A DDS may request records from a VA regional office or a VA hospital. In 2010, SSA made an estimated 154,000 medical record requests to VA for over 100,000 claimants.
In turn, VA directs its medical-evidence requests to SSA at one of two centralized locations: the National Records Center, for information on claimants older than age 55 and the Operations Megacenter, for records of those aged 55 or younger. VA generally requests records by fax, but SSA has tested and is rolling out a process by which medical evidence is requested by and returned to VA through the Government Secure Online Messaging System.
Generally, both SSA and VA are required to consider the other agency’s disability decision in making their own determinations, although neither agency’s decision is binding on the other.11
SSA provides Social Security number verification, Social Security and SSI benefit status, and limited payment histories to the VA via its Federal Online Query system. VA provides beneficiary data to SSA through a data exchange agreement. SSA and VA use the benefit receipt and payment data as income verification for their respective means-tested programs .