Morton III , M. Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD happens after seeing or going through a traumatic event involving injury, violence, or death, such as an accident, rape, abuse, killing, natural disaster like a fire, earthquake, or hurricane , or even experiencing a heart attack. PTSD causes recurrent flashback episodes and nightmares that can disrupt day-to-day activity.
Some cases of PTSD include extreme fear of the event recurring, hyper-vigilance, anger or irritability, and a tendency to be easily startled. Diagnosis of PTSD is made by psychiatrists or psychologists based on mental status examinations and a patient's history. While brain imaging and biochemical abnormalities have been observed in some studies, these findings are not reliable or specific enough for diagnosis.
Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder can involve counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, antidepressant drugs, antipsychotic medications, or a combination of one or more of these treatments.
Also, sometimes eye movement desensitization and reprocessing EMDR may help to reduce the effect of traumatic events. Disability claims for PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, can be approved by disability claims examiners in two separate ways. The first route for approval is for individuals whose medical records satisfy the requirements of Social Security's new disability listing on trauma- and stressor-related disorders, added in The second means of approval is to get a "medical-vocational allowance.
The new disability listing for trauma- and stressor-related disorders, listing 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. Getting much-needed disability benefits for PTSD can be particularly frustrating. If you are struggling with PTSD and cannot work, we can help you obtain the benefits you deserve.
The disorder can afflict anyone exposed to dire stress or trauma, from veterans in combat to individuals who experience or witness a horrible or life-threatening incident.
Research has linked traumatic stress exposures and post-traumatic stress disorder to such conditions as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, musculoskeletal disorders, eating and sleep disorders, and other diseases. We work with people across the U. PTSD disability claims are often given a skeptical or unfair review and are denied without proper cause.
The reasons are many, perhaps the main reason is that the severity of any mental illness can be difficult to prove objectively. We are familiar with the complex array of symptoms associated with PTSD, both psychological and physical. We know the medical and vocational evidence the Social Security, insurance, and VA examiners are looking for, and how to present all evidence most effectively.
To qualify for disability benefits for PTSD, you should provide sufficient medical documentation of a stressor event. Complex cases of PTSD may also involve traumatic and long-term physical, psychological, or sexual abuse, such as:. PTSD can be acute or chronic, with a broad scope of severity. Once the threat is gone, intense, adverse emotions leave sufferers with a jumble of imagery, sounds, smells, and other vivid memories of the event.
PTSD symptoms can include:. 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.
To fulfill the criteria for the listing, you must have medically documented evidence of all of the following: an exposure to a death or threatened death, serious injury, or violence subsequent involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event for example, intrusive memories, dreams, or flashbacks avoidance of external reminders of the event disturbance in mood and behavior, and increases in "arousal and reactivity" for example, exaggerated startle response, sleep disturbance.
You must have either an extreme limitation in one of the following areas or a "marked" severe limitation in two of the following areas: adapting or managing oneself regulating one's emotions, adapting to changes, having practical personal skills like cooking, cleaning, wearing appropriate attire interacting with others in socially appropriate ways concentrating on tasks being able to finish work at a reasonable pace learning, understanding and remembering information including following instructions and applying new knowledge to tasks.
If you don't currently suffer from any extreme or severe limitations in the above areas because you are living in a highly protected or supervised situation or you are undergoing intense therapy, you can provide certain documentation to fulfill the listing.
You must show that:. Your PTSD has been serious and persistent over a period of at least two years. You are undergoing ongoing medical treatment, mental health therapy, or living in a highly structured or protected setting, and Your adaptation is fragile, meaning that you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes or new demands. Disability Law. Social Security Disability.
Long-Term Disability. Veterans Disability. State Short-Term Disability. Hiring a Disability Lawyer. Disability for Specific Illnesses. Long-Term Care. Nolo's Guide to Social Security Disability.
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