We Help Veterans With Military Service
The VA pays disability benefits to Veterans who have been diagnosed with military-service related PTSD. But dont take on the VA bureaucracy by yourself. It can take months or even years before you get the benefits you are entitled to if you dont have the help of a knowledgeable PTSD Claims Attorney who understands the system.
At Cox Disability Law, LLC, we have helped many Veterans obtain PTSD disability benefits. Thats because we dont take no for an answer when it comes to helping Veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country. We can help you, too.
Physical Impairments And Veterans Disability Benefits
If you are a Veteran, then your disability may be due to physical injuries from service. For example, you may have a back impairment or leg or arm injuries. Additionally, you might have a hearing impairment or loss of a limb. In 2001, the rate of service-connected disability increased despite a decrease in the size of the veteran population. This increase coincides with the United States entering into the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since October 2001, the U.S. deployed over 1.64 million U.S. troops in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Because of advancements in military medicine, more service members survive their wounds. The most recent Department of Defense Casualty Update shows over 52,000 service members were wounded in action in Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to the study, Invisible Wounds of War, thousands of service members have been diagnosed with invisible wounds once they returned home. These numbers show that many Veterans have severe disabilities. Therefore, you may not be able to work. Disability benefits replace your income because you cannot work.
What Kind Of Social Security Disability Payment Is A Veteran Eligible To Receive
There are two types of SSA disability benefits a veteran may be eligible to apply for. One is SSDI, a disability insurance program where the insurance payments in these cases are the monthly Social Security tax deductions from the veterans paycheck, assuming the veteran has worked long enough to qualify for coverage.
The other is something known as Supplemental Security Income or SSI, which is a need-based program. Veterans may be required to submit proof of financial need for SSI.
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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 .
The Amount Does A Veteran Get With Ssd
There are various factors that will decide how much remuneration you get on the off chance that you fit the bill for SSD as a veteran with post-awful pressure issue. By and large, the people who qualify get SSD benefits dependent on age and the veterans normal lifetime profit. You can utilize the Social Security Administration online advantage adding machine to appraise what your SSD might be paid at.
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You Could Earn Up To $3345 Per Month Find Out If You Qualify Today
If you speak with a disability attorney or disability advocate who has worked with veterans to get their VA and Social Security disability entitlements, this will help to ensure you have provided all the documentation needed to support your claim. Often there are delays due to insufficient documentation being provided.
Your attorney will have experience and knowledge about how the SSA works and should know what is required to win both a VA and SSD claim. Processing claims for any disability payments often take months and even in some cases years for a decision to be reached. You can normally expect to receive an answer more quickly if you ask an attorney to work on your behalf.
Most attorneys, but not necessarily all, do not require any upfront payments for their services, so you will only need to pay legal fees once your claim have been settled. If you are denied disability, you may not be asked to pay any legal fees.
If you are unsure of the terms of hiring an attorney, check with the attorney before going through the hiring process. This will ensure you arent unduly worried about an unexpected bill being posted to you.
As many claims are denied the first time round this shouldnt discourage you, as your chosen attorney can work through the appeals process with the hope of winning a favorable settlement on your behalf sooner rather than later. Complete the Free Case Evaluation today!
How To Get Ptsd Disability From The Va
Veterans may also make a separate VA disability claim. Many veterans with PTSD quality for VA disability benefits. They should file a claim for monthly tax-free compensation with Veteran Affairs they are suffering from PTSD as a result of a traumatic event that occurred while they were on active duty. Claims must be made in writing and submitted to the appropriate VA regional office.
Each VA disability claim receives a VA disability rating based on how much the disorder interferes with daily functioning. Veterans PTSD is one of the most common disorders claimed by veterans. It is highly recommended that claimants hire a veterans disability attorney for support in reapplying for benefits if their initial claim was denied.
Veterans who are suffering from a PTSD disability should also consider applying for a VA loan which can be used for buying, repairing, or refinancing a home or for retrofitting a home for specific disabilities stemming from a physical injury or other impairment.
If you are experiencing the debilitating effects of PTSD stemming from a traumatic event in your past, you may be eligible for SSDI from the SSA or VA benefits from the Veterans Benefits Administration. Speak to your medical team about your symptoms and how they are interfering with daily functioning. Ask them about helping you make a claim and whether they think you will be awarded benefits. Do additional research online and consult with an attorney, if possible.
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How Do I Talk To Someone Right Now
If youre a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with our caring, qualified Veterans Crisis Line responders for confidential help. Many of them are Veterans themselves. This service is private, free, and available 24/7.
To connect with a Veterans Crisis Line responder anytime day or night:
- Call , then select 1.
- If you have hearing loss, call TTY: .
You can also:
- Call .
- Go to the nearest emergency room.
- Go directly to your nearest VA medical center. It doesnt matter what your discharge status is or if youre enrolled in VA health care.Find your nearest VA medical center
Are Ssdi Benefits Taxable
Social Security disability benefits can be subject to tax at both the federal and state level. Many recipients do not pay taxes at the federal level because their federally Adjusted Gross Income is too low to be taxed. However, a spouses income or household income can cause SSDI to be taxed. Supplemental Security Income benefits are not taxed.
37 states and D.C. do not tax social security benefits, but nine states do.
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How Can You Apply For Service
If you think you are entitled to service-connected VA benefits, then you can apply for disability benefits by filling out VA Form 21-526EZ.
This form is the APPLICATION FOR DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND RELATED COMPENSATION BENEFITS. If you have any of the following materials, then attach it to your application:
- Discharge or separation papers
- Dependency records
- Medical evidence
You can also apply online at www.ebenefits.va.gov. Please remember that when you apply for service-connected disability benefits, your disability must have started when you were in service. If the VA cannot connect your injury or impairment to your time in service, then you will not receive service-connected VA benefits.
Cannon Disability And Veterans Disability Benefits
Veterans can contact us for free. We will answer your questions about service-connected disability benefits and Social Security Disability benefits. You can reach us through our website contact page. Or, call us by phone. We offer a free consultation about your benefits.
This free consultation includes your questions about Veterans benefits. We want you to maximize your benefits. That means we want you to receive all the benefits you deserve. In order to do this, we need to know about your eligibility.
Therefore, we will ask you questions about your time in the service. We will also ask you questions about your work history. This will help us know if you are eligible under both programs. Likewise, we will also ask about your disability. We need to know when your disability began. Also, you will need to describe daily symptoms. Finally, we will need to understand how your disability stops you from working.
Even if you qualify for Veterans benefits, you may not automatically win SSD benefits. The two programs are very different. Eligibility for benefits is not the same in each program. However, dont feel discouraged. Winning disability benefits is what we do. We encourage you to take advantage of our free consultation.
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Do I Meet The Requirements
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Social Security Disability Qualifications for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
For PTSD disability, Social Security will want to see evidence of anxiety or emotional disturbance caused by regular flashbacks, nightmares, or memories.
In order to receive Social Security Disability Benefits for PTSD, Veterans must have a well-documented medical history which outlines their ongoing battle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It also helps to have the support of your doctor or the Veterans Administration.
Satisfying the SSA Listing With PTSD
To meet the requirement of the anxiety listing, you must have disruptive flashbacks, nightmares, or memories that regularly cause you marked distress. This means that you suffer from near-extreme anxiety or emotional disturbance, not just disturbing memories that make you uncomfortable. The marked distress must interfere with your daily activities, social life, or ability to concentrate. Other ways to qualify under the anxiety listing are having the required symptoms of panic attacks, OCD, phobias, or generalized anxiety due to your PTSD.
What do veterans qualify for with SSDI?
Who are we?
How long does the process take?
Evidence Disabled Veterans Need When Applying For Ssdi Or Ssi Claims
- previous medical records which show the commencement date of the disability
- current medical records
- details of current medications, dosages, reasons for taking them and results from their use
- complete list of hospitals where treatment has been administered and the treatment received
- receipts for medical treatment received
- any unpaid invoices for medical treatment
- list of physicians who have provided treatment including current contact details
- complete work history over the last 15 years, including duties undertaken in each job
- details of any workers compensation received including reason for and amounts paid
- your original birth certificate, copies are not accepted
- your social security card
- names and birth dates of your spouse and minor children
- dates of marriages and divorces
- contact details of a contactable friend or relative that can respond on your behalf
- check or savings account details including the banks 9 digit routing number.
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How Long Will It Take To Receive Ssd Benefits For Veterans With Ptsd
Given that, it can take several months to a year for benefits to kick in once an application is submitted. Yet, a veteran may receive a lump-sum retroactive payment for the time between the onset of PTSD and the receipt of benefits, up to one year. Either way, any veteran who served on or after Oct. 1, 2001, is eligible to have his or her application expedited. While this is supposed to happen automatically, an applicant may need to inform the SSA of his or her eligibility.
Also, another factor in the SSDI application might be a disability ruling by the VA. As a result, if the VA has determined that you suffer a 100% permanent and total disability as a result of your PTSD, this might also expedite the process. However, a P& T rating does not guarantee you will be approved for SSDI benefits.
Attorneys from the Disability Advantage Group have experience helping disabled veterans across the nation secure the benefits they deserve. Above all, if you suffer from PTSD as a result of traumas related to your military service, you deserve to be compensated. Call today to arrange a consultation.
How Hnb Helps Veterans With Disabilities
If youre not getting what you should from the VA, these are some of the steps HNB takes to fix it:
- Advising you on getting medical treatment you need
- Finding doctors who understand how to fill out the VAs Disability Benefits Questionnaire
- Ordering a medical review of your case file
- Appealing for a higher disability rating from the VA
- Appealing denied claims
We can take your appeal to the highest level needed:
- Your VA Regional Office
- The Board of Veterans Appeals
- US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
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What Types Of Evidence Do I Need To Prove My Ptsd Disability Claim
The SSA will want to see adequate evidence from acceptable medical and non-medical sources that verify your condition, its severity, and the effect your symptoms have on your ability to perform work-related tasks. You will want to submit your files from all of your treating physicians, including your general doctor, your psychiatrist, and your psychologist.
If you have high levels of catecholamine, altered levels of cortisol, and/or a decrease in the volume of your hippocampus three biological factors that are characteristic of people with PTSD your diagnostic test results can further support your claim.
The SSA will also take any information into consideration from acceptable non-medical resources, such as your employer, social worker, and family members about how your condition is impairing your ability to cope with work. If you are in group counseling, input from your group leader would be helpful, as well.
From our years helping disabled applicants, we can determine what the SSA is looking for and what documents will best prove your case. We will help you obtain that evidence to give you the best chance of receiving benefits.
Does The Ssa Consider Ptsd As A Disability
PTSD is one of the conditions in the Social Security Administrations Listing of Impairments, under Section 12.15: Trauma- and stressor-related disorders.
For PTSD to qualify as a disability, you must have evidence of all of the following:
- Experience with actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence
- Involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event
- Avoidance of any events, places, things, etc. that remind you of the event
- Mood and behavior disturbances
- Increases in arousal and reactivity
You must also provide evidence of either A or B:
- Comprehend, recall, and apply information
- Interact with others
- Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace
- Adapt or manage oneself
You must prove an extreme limitation of one or a marked limitation of two.
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Documenting Your Ptsd For Social Security
It is important to make sure that Social Security has all the medical evidence related to your PTSD and all your other impairments, including records of inpatient or outpatient psychiatric treatment and clinic notes from counseling and therapy. While Social Security will usually request your treatment records from the previous year when you file your disability application, you should provide Social Security with all relevant records from the last several years, if not more.
In addition, if your treating mental health provider is willing to complete an RFC form or write a letter on your behalf, this could give you a much better chance at being approved. The RFC form should ask for your diagnosis and symptoms, and it should address your ability to:
- sustain a routine without special supervision
- maintain attention and concentration
- understand, remember, and carry out simple and complex instructions
- avoid excessive absences from work
- make simple work-related decisions
How Can I Get Veterans Disability Compensation For Ptsd
Under VA rules, first you need to meet three conditions:
- you are properly diagnosed with PTSD, and
- the stressor happened during your military service , and
- due to your resulting symptoms, you cannot function in normal life as you formerly could.
Submit a claim that fulfills these demands, and VA will likely find you are qualified to receive disability compensation.
While this may sound straightforward, there are many details that your condition must satisfy before it can be considered service-connected. Your case will go through VAs screening process and you will undergo a C& P exam.
Possible VA ratings for PTSD are 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 100 percent, depending on the severity of your symptoms. The VA will consider all your mental impairments together, under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.
Learn how VA rates PTSD and how the C& P evaluation affects your claim in our article: Understand Your PTSD Rating.
Once your condition fulfills all VAs requirements for PTSD, it can then technically be considered a disability for the purpose of veterans compensation.
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