Who Can Diagnose Ptsd For Va

Case Of Sgt X: Doctor Admits Experiencing Pressure To Misdiagnose Ptsd

In June 2008, an Army service member obtained an explicit confession demonstrating that the Army pressured a staff psychologist to change their clinical diagnoses.4 “Sgt.X,” a service member who served in Iraq and spoke with Salon Media Group on condition of anonymity, went to seek treatment for a brain injury and PTSD5 at Fort Carson Army Post near Colorado Springs, Colorado after returning from overseas. At an appointment with psychologist Douglas McNinch in June 2008, Sgt.X brought a tape recorder.6 Sgt.X asked McNinch why he had told the evaluation board that Sgt.X had an “anxiety disorder” instead of PTSD. If discharged from the Army with an “anxiety disorder,” Sgt. X would receive a significantly lower amount of benefits than if he was discharged with PTSD.7

In reply to his question, McNinch stated, “I will tell you something confidentially that I would have to deny if it were ever public. Not only myself, but all the clinicians up here are being pressured to not diagnose PTSD and diagnose anxiety disorder NOS .” Apparently Army medical boards were “kick back” diagnoses of PTSD. McNinch continued by telling Sgt.X that his wasnt the only case of misdiagnosis due to pressure. McNinch said that he “and other are under a lot of pressure to not PTSD. Its not fairnow the V.A. is jumping on board, saying, ‘Well, these people dont have PTSD,’ and stuff like that.”

Who Is Affected By Post

About 4% of children under age 18 are exposed to some form of trauma in their lifetime that leads to post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, of those children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, about 7% of girls and 2% of boys are diagnosed with PTSD.

What Tests Does Va Use To Determine Whether I Have Ptsd

The VA uses the criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition to evaluate whether there is a valid diagnosis of PTSD. The PTSD diagnosis must satisfy all of the DSM-V criterion to validly diagnose PTSD. If the veterans PTSD does not meet the diagnosis, the VA will deny the claim. Therefore, it is important that the veteran thoroughly document all PTSD symptoms. The veteran needs to be open and honest with her treating providers. This will give VA a true picture of the way the PTSD has impacted her life.

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% Disability Rating For Ptsd

People at this level have a difficult time establishing and maintaining relationships in the workplace and in social situations. Their PTSD symptoms are often so severe that they will often struggle to perform their work-related duties. They may also experience frequent bouts of anxiety, depression, and even have suicidal thoughts.

How To Get Disability Benefits For Ptsd

In order to receive disability benefits for PTSD, you first need to have a diagnosis. For the diagnosis, a mental health professional will administer an in-depth exam that will evaluate your symptoms, their origins, and the connection of your trauma to your military service. If this exam is conducted outside their system,, the VA will also evaluate you independently.

The symptoms related to PTSD are broad and far-reaching, spanning from the hallmarks nightmares, flashbacks, and insomnia to more physical symptoms, including physical reactions to triggers and moments of uncontrollable aggression or hostility. Without a PTSD diagnosis, you can suffer from the symptoms of post-traumatic stress for years and not know their cause, or even blame yourself for behaviors outside of your control. Getting a professional diagnosis can help get you on the road to recovery and is also the first step towards receiving the disability benefits you deserve.

Once the application process is complete, the VA will either rule to give you disability benefits for PTSD based on their determined rating percentage or deny your application. If you disagree with the disability rating assigned to you by the VA, or if they reject your application, you can make an appeal and potentially have your rating changed.

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Who Is At Risk Of Developing Ptsd

A loved one, especially a military veteran or service person can develop PTSD no matter their age. There are, however, certain risk factors that increase the chance of developing PTSD. For example, the length of time of exposure to the traumatic event or the extent of the injury suffered by a person during the traumatic event can increase the likelihood that a servicemember will develop PTSD as a result of their military service. In other words, the amount of combat experienced can directly correspond to the likelihood of developing PTSD.

There are additional factors that can increase the chances of developing PTSD. Personal factors, like previous exposure to a traumatic event, age, and gender can also all affect whether a person will develop PTSD. Other factors like inherited mental health risks, such as a family history of anxiety and/or depression, and a persons personal temperament can affect the likelihood of developing PTSD. The way the brain regulates the chemicals and hormones the body releases in response to stress can also affect whether a person develops PTSD during their lifetime.

What Are The Treatment Options After A Diagnosis Of Ptsd

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with PTSD, there are a variety of treatment options. In particular, for service members who receive a diagnosis of PTSD these treatment options include a few types of psychotherapy, also called talk therapy. There are several effective treatments that include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of psychotherapy combines talking with a clinician to see the various ways of thinking that keep you stuck in a cycle of negativity. This type of therapy is often combined with exposure therapy.
• Exposure therapy. This type of therapy combines re-experiencing memories and frightening events with learning tools to cope with them effectively. A mental health professional can use exposure therapy to treat flashbacks and nightmares. One relatively new approach to exposure therapy utilizes virtual reality programming to allow the patient to re-enter the exact setting in which they experienced trauma.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. This type of therapy is a PTSD treatment that is designed to combine exposure therapy with a series of eye movements with the goal to help the patient process traumatic memories and retrain the bodys reaction to stressors.
• Symptoms of PTSD can also be treated by a healthcare professional with medications like antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. A doctor of psychiatry can work with a patient or combat veteran suffering from PTSD to find out the best medication with the fewest side effects.

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How To Keep Your Ptsd Rating

To reduce the chances of the VA decreasing your PTSD rating, make sure to stay consistent with your treatment. The most effective current treatments for most PTSD cases are selective serotonin uptake inhibitors and therapy. Medication can help you deal with your symptoms so that you can continue to live a happy and fulfilled life. Meanwhile, therapy gives you a safe environment to process your trauma and move towards long-term recovery.

If you feel that your disability rating is too low, we can help. We have decades of experience helping Veterans with PTSD increase their disability ratings and get the benefits they deserve. We can help you put together a strong case to present to the VA to get an increased rating.

While the regulations employed by the VA often feel like a hindrance to a Veteran looking to get the benefits they need, our attorneys know how to make these rules and guidelines beneficial rather than harmful to Veterans. We can help you get your rating to accurately reflect your condition. Let us focus on the legal battle so you can continue your recovery with the support that you need and deserve.

Veterans Ptsd Rating Schedule

Along with using the expert outside resource of DSM-5 , VA applies its own PTSD rating schedule as published in 38 CFR § 4.130Schedule of ratings Mental disorders .

As with all VA mental health claims, the CFR rating scale for Mental Disorders has the following ratings: 0, 10, 30, 50, 70 or 100 percent, based on the severity of the posttraumatic stress disorder. Within the schedule, there are social and occupational factors that are considered, as well as severity and frequency of symptoms.

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Can I Ask Questions About The Assessment

No matter what your assessment involves, you should always be able to ask questions in advance. The provider should be able to tell you:

• What the assessment will include
• How long the assessment will take
• How the results of the assessment will be used

You will be in control of how much information you share about any traumas you experienced. You can always ask to take a break if helpful.

You can also ask about the provider’s training and experience. For example:

“Can you tell me a little about how you assess PTSD?”

You should feel comfortable with the assessment methods that a provider will use. Providers may use a structured or semi-structured interview, where they ask you a series of questions from a printed document. The provider may also have you fill out a standardized self-report, or questionnaire . A good assessment of PTSD can be done without the use of any special equipment.

“How often do you do PTSD assessments? How long have you been doing PTSD assessments?”

Many providers specialize in assessing and treating people who have experienced trauma. Some providers may also specialize in working with certain kinds of trauma survivors. For example, a provider may work with adult survivors of childhood traumas. You may find a provider who specializes in a different trauma area than what you experienced, or who does not specialize at all.

“What formal training have you had for PTSD assessment?”

Pressure Not To Diagnose Ptsd At The Us Army And Department Of Veterans Affairs

The U.S. Army allegedly pressured psychologists not to diagnose Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to free the Army from providing long-term, expensive care for soldiers. The Department of Veterans Affairs has also been implicated in pressuring staff to misdiagnose veterans with the aim of cutting costs.

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What Is Ptsd And How Is It Rated By The Va

The Mayo Clinic defines PTSD as a mental health condition thats triggered by a terrifying event either experiencing or witnessing it. Someone who has PTSD could experience extreme emotional symptoms and uncontrollable thoughts and flashbacks.

Once you have been diagnosed with PTSD, the VA will rate the severity of your condition. The various ratings are:

How Do The Dsm

Overall, the symptoms of PTSD are generally comparable between DSM-5 and DSM-IV. A few key alterations include:

• The revision of Criterion A1 in DSM-5 narrowed qualifying traumatic events such that the unexpected death of family or a close friend due to natural causes is no longer included.
• Criterion A2, requiring that the response to a traumatic event involved intense fear, hopelessness, or horror, was removed from DSM-5. Research suggests that Criterion A2 did not improve diagnostic accuracy .
• The avoidance and numbing cluster in DSM-IV was separated into two criteria in DSM-5: Criterion C and Criterion D . This results in a requirement that a PTSD diagnosis includes at least one avoidance symptom.
• Three new symptoms were added:
• Criterion D : Overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world and, negative affect
• Criterion E : Reckless or destructive behavior

Continuing Education

PTSD Overview and Treatment

The course describes the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD and evidence-based treatments. Videos of Veterans with PTSD and clinicians are included.

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Present A Current Diagnosis Of Ptsd

The first step to receiving VA benefits for PTSD disability requires the veteran to have a current diagnosis. A psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed social worker, or other mental health care practitioner must diagnosis the veteran with PTSD. Additionally, the diagnosis must conform to specific criteria.

Its important that the diagnosing doctor provides a report that fully describes why they feel that the veteran has PTSD and how the veterans symptoms meet the specific criteria. All of this medical evidence must show that it is as likely as not that the veteran currently has disabling PTSD.

Can You Get Tdiu For Ptsd

Yes. There are many instances where PTSD keeps a Veteran from being able to obtain or maintain a job. In these cases, a Veteran may be on track to receiving TDIU.

However, if a Veteran has PTSD and wants to qualify for TDIU, then they will have to prove one of the two requirements outlined above for maintaining substantially gainful employment.

They will also have to have either a service-connected disability with a 60% rating or higher or multiple disabilities with a combined rating of 70%, including one of at least 40%.

Once all of these things are in place in a Veterans claim, then they can move forward with receiving TDIU.

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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.

A Current Diagnosis Of Ptsd

It is important to note that veterans will not be eligible to receive VA disability benefits if they are not currently diagnosed with PTSD. For service connection purposes, VA requires a formal diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional, whether it be a therapist, psychiatrist, or general practitioner, made using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition .

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S For Submitting Your Claim

Many service members rely on the assistance of non-attorney representatives or fellow service members when submitting their claim and appealing a PTSD claim denial.

But these cases require the experience of an experienced PTSD appeal attorney. An attorney can ensure that service members properly complete each step of properly submitting a PTSD claim, and they can appeal denials.

Every step is an opportunity for service members to present compelling evidence to support their claim for service-connected benefits.

Va Disability Compensation For Ptsd

Posttraumatic stress can happen after someone goes through a traumatic event such as combat, an assault, or a disaster. Most people have some stress reactions following trauma. But if the reactions dont go away over time or they disrupt your life, you may have posttraumatic stress disorder . Find out if you can get disability compensation or benefits if you have symptoms of PTSD.

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What To Do After My Ptsd Claim Is Denied

If a veteran receives a PTSD claim denial, there are certain avenues of relief. Reopening a denied PTSD claim or filing an appeal are both options. However, the VA maintains strict rules on the evidence required to reopen denials.

Generally, reopening may only occur if the VA denied the claim within the past year, the claimant did not file an appeal, and the veteran has new and material evidence of a previously unestablished fact.

The VA frequently denies reopening requests based on the lack of new and material evidence. An attorney can assist a claimant in obtaining evidence that meets these criteria.

Psychologist Training And Qualifications

Psychologists are people who have either a PhD or a PsyD in a field such as clinical or counseling psychology. In some cases, a psychologist may have an EdD .

To get a PhD, PsyD, or EdD, a person must go to graduate school. Graduate programs in clinical or counseling psychology usually last about five to six years. During that time, psychologists receive extensive training in the assessment and treatment of various psychological disorders.

In meeting with a psychologist, you want to first make sure he is licensed by the state in which he is practicing. You may also want to ask about his professional orientation. It can also be important to ask about his training and area of expertise to make sure heâs a good fit for you.

Depending on the type of training received, each psychologist is going to have his own beliefs and ideas about the origins of psychological disorders and how to treat them. These beliefs and ideas are generally referred to as an âorientation.â

Moreover, donât forget the importance of having a personal connection with a mental health provider. Even if a psychologist is perfectly qualified doesnât mean he is the right provider for you.

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What Happens With Your C& p Exam If You’re Diagnosed With Ptsd

A C& P exam is a medical exam ordered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to assess a veterans health condition that caused him to apply for VA disability benefits. This is a routine request that allows the VA to evaluate your symptoms and then write a report to send back to the VA Regional Office where you submitted your application request for benefits.

If youre applying for benefits because of post-traumatic stress disorder , its important to understand how the C& P exam will be performed and what the VA looks for during the evaluation.