Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects lives of about 12 million adults in the United States at a particular point of time. It is estimated that at some point in their lives, 6% of the total population will develop PTSD.
It is a serious mental health disorder that usually gets developed because of being exposed to or witnessing a life-threatening event. PTSD may trigger temporary symptoms like feeling on edge, sleep disturbance, and upsetting memories and nightmares of the event that generally subside within a few weeks or a few months of the traumatic event.
However, you may be among the group of people whose PTSD symptoms stick on and hamper your ability to do everyday activities, such as attending and performing your job. In such a case, you may be eligible for PTSD disability benefits.
If you are suffering from similar symptoms, you should consult a mental health professional, like a psychiatrist or psychologist for a proper diagnosis and evaluation of your case. After getting your diagnosis and evaluation done, you can contact a PTSD disability benefits lawyer for assistance in applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
PTSD is a serious mental health disorder that can lead to severe consequences in your everyday life. Therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms of PTSD. The disorder may originate either as a victim directly impacted by the event or as a witness or family member privy to some incident. The symptoms may develop immediately or may take several months to develop. The following are some of the symptoms of PTSD:
If you or a loved one is suffering from PTSD, it may lead to other disorders, including drug and alcohol abuse and depression. So, if you believe that you have PTSD, it is advisable to get evaluated by a psychiatrist or a psychologist.
To qualify for disability benefits through SSI or SSDI, you must show that you have a PTSD medical condition that is severe enough to satisfy the disability definition used by Social Security. The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a Listing of Impairments, also known as the Blue Book, which contains impairments that are considered severe enough to meet the definition of disability.
Listing 12.15 of the Listing of Impairments concerns disorders related to trauma or stressors. You can qualify for PTSD as a listed impairment if you can show the medical records that prove each of the requirements of the listing. You must prove that you have flashbacks or other intrusive memories of the event, besides showing exposure to an event or incident involving death or a threat of death, serious injury or violence.
Even if you fail to meet the listing criteria, you may qualify for PTSD disability if your medical records establish that you qualify for a vocational allowance. Winning benefits through a medical-vocational allowance requires you to show that your PTSD symptoms are severe enough to render you unable from engaging in substantial gainful activity and preventing you from doing the type of work you did in the past or doing any other type of work.
A disability benefits lawyer at The Keener Law Firm can help you with an application or an appeal of a denial of PTSD disability benefits. Contact us today for a free consultation and claim review.