Medical Evidence Required For Ptsd Disability
What is in your medical records means everything to the processing of a SSDI or SSI disability claim. Your medical records should contain at least one detailed description of a typical episode of PTSD, including the frequency and duration of any panic attacks and what brings on worsening symptoms. Your doctor should also include whether your description of your symptoms matches his opinion of your mental state. Most importantly, your medical records should include how your PTSD symptoms affect your ability to function, both at home and at work.
Winning Social Security Disability Benefits For Ptsd
The SSA defines post-traumatic stress disorder as recurrent and intrusive recollections of a traumatic experience, which are a source of marked distress.
You may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits for PTSD if you satisfy several criteria specified in the SSAs medical Listing of Impairments.
PTSD is categorized as a Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorder, under SSA Listing 12.15. The medical requirements are spelled out in three parts, A, B, and C. Your symptoms must satisfy the requirements of paragraphs A and B OR A and C.
Part A is about medical evidence and documentation. Part A specifies five characteristics to diagnose a stress or trauma-related disorder, and all must be present.
Part B, which requires the extreme limitation of one, or of two, of the following areas of mental functioning:
Part C of the medical listing for Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders requires that post-traumatic stress disorder is serious and persistent that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of PTSD for at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both:
Social Security Claims For Post
PTSD is listed in the Social Security Listing of Impairments under Mental Disorders Listing 12.06, Anxiety-related disorders. To be awarded disability benefits under this listing, the claimants medical records regarding PTSD must satisfy a combination of specific, rigid requirements.
Many times, the persons medical records do not meet or equal the SSAs requirements of section 12.06. In these cases, your claim for PTSD can be evaluated under Medical Vocational Allowance. To qualify under these criteria, the post-traumatic stress disorder must be severe enough that you are considered unable to work at your former job, or other type of job that provides substantial income.
There is no need to suffer endlessly when help is available for you. We can help appeal the denial and ensure that your post-traumatic stress disorder disability claim will have the highest possible chance of success. Our legal team will collect and properly present all the medical records and documentation needed to support your disability claim, and make certain that you meet all obligations and deadlines.
If you are scheduled to appear in a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge to determine whether you are eligible for disability, we will prepare you for the hearing and present your case before the ALJ. As Board Certified Social Security attorneys, we can represent you with authority in your final appeal to federal court if necessary.
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Can I Get Social Security Disability Benefits If I Suffer From Ptsd
PTSD is absolutely recognized by the Social Security Administration! However, it can be very difficult to win a Social Security disability benefits case for PTSD. Unlike many physical conditions where a judge can actually look at you and tell right away how and where you are suffering, PTSD is an unseen mental condition. For this reason, it is imperative when you are applying for disability benefits to make sure that you are seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist regularly and that they are writing down all of your complaints and issues. Having your doctor fill out a Mental Impairment Evaluation can be especially helpful when applying for disability benefits with PTSD. If your doctor refuses to fill one out, which is fairly common, make sure that your family members or anyone that you are close with provides the Social Security Administration with detailed information about how PTSD limits your daily functioning.
If you suffer from PTSD and it is preventing you from working for at least 12 months, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits . When you apply for disability benefits with PTSD, the Social Security Administration will first determine whether your condition is severe enough to meet a listing. If you meet a listing you will be found disabled. If you do not meet a listing, the Social Security Administration will then evaluate your residual functional capacity ) and determine whether you are entitled to disability benefits.
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, a 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.
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How Does The Process Work
You receive a Ticket in the mail. You take this Ticket to any Employment Network or State Vocational Rehabilitation agency , and if you both agree to work together, the EN or VR will help you with job training, finding employers, information about work incentives, materials to send to prospective employers, and other tasks that will help you go to work. Participating in the Ticket to Work program means that youre protected from a Continuing Disability Review based on your potential ability to work.
Get Help Contact Our Disability Attorneys
Many people who are denied their disability benefits simply feel they have no recourse. We have been winning battles against disability claim denials since 1992, representing people who have fought their insurance companies, the SSA and the VA.
Do not wait any longer. Call us toll free at or request a Free Consultation with a lawyer to discuss your PTSD disability claim. We can assist you wherever you live.
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Our Experienced Attorneys Will Fight For The Ssdi Benefits You Deserve
Are you suffering from PTSD? If so, turn to the experienced Social Security disability attorneys at Carlson Meissner Hart & Hayslett for help obtaining the SSDI benefits you deserve. Applying for SSDI benefits is a stressful, challenging process that you shouldnt face alone. Let us guide you through the process and work tirelessly to secure the SSDI benefits you are entitled to by law.
If your claim has been denied, our attorneys can also assist you with the process of appealing the SSAs decision. Contact our law office now to schedule a free consultation regarding your case.
Mk Disability Lawyers Can Help Prove Disability Due To Ptsd
Applying for LTD for a condition stemming from PTSD is a difficult task, at the best of times, and even more so when you are struggling with the symptoms of PTSD. It is important that you get help where you can to ensure that your application is complete, accurate and most of all, persuasive to your insurance company to increase the likelihood that your claim will be approved and to avoid the stress of appealing or litigating a denial.
From for PTSD from both sides , we know that PTSD LTD claims are one of the most common types of claims that are denied or later, terminated. We understand why these claims were not successful and how to persuade insurance companies of their legitimacy and resolve these disputes for our disabled clients.
Together, our three law partners have over 50 years of LTD litigation experience representing professionals, self-employed individuals, teachers and other employees with PTSD and similar invisible conditions. It is our hope that our suggestions will increase the likelihood of these claims being approved early on so that you can focus on your recovery without the added anxiety over possibly losing your income and other health-related benefits and possibly, losing your job or business.
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Satisfying The Social Security Listing With Ptsd
The new disability listing for trauma- and stressor-related disorders, listing 12.15, first requires medical documentation of all five of the following:
- exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence
- subsequent involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event
- avoidance of external reminders of the event
- disturbance in mood and behavior, and
- increases in arousal and reactivity .
Once a diagnosis of PTSD is made by a psychologist or psychiatrist under the above criteria, Social Security then determines if the applicant has the required level of functional limitations due to post-traumatic stress. An applicant must have either an extreme limitation in one of the following areas or a “marked” limitation in two of the following areas:
- understanding, remembering, or using information
- interacting with others in socially appropriate ways
- being able to concentrate on tasks in order to complete them at a reasonable pace
- adapting or managing oneself .
C Common Medical Conditions Which May Result In Whole Or In Part From Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And/or Its Treatment
Section C medical conditions may result in whole or in part as a direct result of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, from the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or the combined effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and its treatment.
Conditions listed in Section C of the Entitlement Considerations are only granted entitlement if the individual merits and medical evidence of the case determines a consequential relationship exists. Consultation with Medical Advisory is strongly recommended.
If it is claimed a medication required to treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder resulted in whole, or in part, in the clinical onset or aggravation of a medical condition the following must be established:
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Dealing With The Stresses Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Some people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder so powerful it can change their lives for a period of time. It can affect how they sleep, how they eat, and how or if they can go to work. And becausearound eight million people within the United States will experience some level of PTSD, its clearly important to understand how it can be dealt with in various ways.
PTSD already comes with a lot of difficult and confusing thoughts and emotions. When you add in whether or not PTSD is classified as a disability things get more complicated and, possibly, more stressful.
This is strictly regarding PTSDs classification as a disability within the context of employment. The larger discussion around disabilities and the language for defining how someone feels is a different discussion for another time.
Remember, struggling with PTSD is something that can happen to anyone. Dealing with it is not as easy as getting over it or just focusing on something else, although yes, some people do heal with nothing but time. Everyone is different and your struggles are unique to you.
The answer to whether PTSD is considered a disability within the realm of employment is, of course, not a simple yes or no. There are factors to be taken into account that can change the outcome.
Lets take a look at when and how PTSD is classified as a disability and who can get benefits for PTSD treatment.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder And Your Ability To Perform Sedentary Work
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can make performing any gainful work impossible if it is severe enough, including sedentary work. Sedentary work doesnt involve high levels of physical activity, but it does generally require the ability to concentrate, to work with other people or the general public, and to perform tasks which require you to be able to do detail work with your hands.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can negatively affect your ability to do any of those things. Or it may not affect any of them. Its critical when youre applying for Social Security Disability benefits that your doctors and mental health professionals include all restrictions to your activities, even if they dont seem relevant on the surface. Your Social Security Disability lawyer can help you and the mental health professionals who are working with you to frame your Social security disability case in a way which will give you the optimum chances of having your claim accepted.
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Accommodating Employees With Post
People with PTSD may develop some of the limitations discussed below, but seldom develop all of them. Also, the degree of limitation will vary among individuals. Be aware that not all people with PTSD will need accommodations to perform their jobs, and many others may only need a few accommodations. The following is only a sample of the possibilities available. Numerous other accommodation solutions may exist.
What Medical Evidence Is Required To Prove Ptsd
What is in your medical records means everything to proving your SSDI claim. Your mental health records should have a detailed description of what happened to you. There should also be at least one detailed description of a typical episode of PTSD, including the frequency and duration of any panic attacks, and what brings on worsening symptoms. Your doctor should also include whether your description of your symptoms matches his or her opinion of your mental status. Most importantly, your medical records should include how your PTSD symptoms effect your ability to function, both at home and at work.
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The Social Security Administration Added A New Impairment Listing In 2017 Under Which A Person With Ptsd May Qualify For Social Security Benefits
12.15 Trauma and stressor-related disorders , satisfied by A and B, or A and C:
AND
OR
To qualify for Social Security Disability Income, a person with PTSD must satisfy the requirements of the above listing.
Social Security will request your medical treatment records for the previous year, but its best to provide all records from the past several years. It is very important to include your doctors opinion regarding your mental state.
You should also ask your doctor to complete a Residual Functioning Capacity Form or letter detailing your:
Mental Residual Functional Capacity
One of the best ways to increase an applicants chances for approval with a mental illness such as PTSD is to have his or her treating doctor fill out a mental residual functional capacity form. Typically when an applicant initially files for disability benefits, a medical examiner from the SSA will fill out a mental RFC based on the applicants medical documentation. This form is an assessment of an individuals mental limitations caused by his or her disabling condition. The SSA will use this assessment to determine if the applicant is capable of working despite his or her limitations. If the applicant is seen as unfit for employment, the SSA will award the applicant Social Security Disability benefits.
However, this medical examiner makes a medical decision without even seeing the applicant in person. Because of this, the SSA gives more creditability toward a RFC filled out by the applicant’s treating doctor since the doctor has direct experience with the applicant’s disabling condition. To learn more, visit our page about Residual Functional Capacity.
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Contact A Social Security Disability Attorney At 512
The symptoms of PTSD are divided into four groups:
The individual relives the event through flashbacks, nightmares and hallucinations. Events or location remind them of the traumatic event for example, an anniversary date. A persons own thoughts or feelings can also trigger symptoms.
The person avoids situations, places and people who remind them of the event. This can cause a person to change their daily routine and lead to isolation from family, friends and colleagues. The person may also lose interest in activities they once enjoyed.
Excessive emotions or difficulty feeling or expressing affection and relating to others. The person may experience anger, irritability or have trouble sleeping. They may be easily startled or behave in a destructive way. Physical symptoms include rapid breathing, muscle tension, nausea and diarrhea.
The person may have ongoing and distorted beliefs concerning the event, themselves and others. These feelings include blame, guilt, estrangement and shame. They may also have trouble remembering key details of the event.
To be diagnosed with PTSD a person must have:
- One re-experiencing symptom, such as flashbacks or nightmares
- One avoidance symptom
- Two cognitive and mood symptoms
Children can also experience PTSD, but will present different symptoms:
- Be unable to speak or forget how to talk
- Act out the event during play
- Bedwetting
- Cling to a parent or adult