Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Security Disability Claims

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Security Disability Claims

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences a traumatic event. While PTSD is often associated with combat veterans returning from war, it can arise from many different circumstances, including serious accidents, workplace incidents, medical trauma, violence, sexual assault or physical and emotional abuse. The common thread is exposure to an event that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope.

PTSD can cause a wide range of symptoms, including panic attacks, intrusive thoughts or memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, emotional withdrawal, irritability, and sleep disturbance. Over time, these symptoms can significantly interfere with daily functioning and make it difficult to maintain consistent, full-time employment.

The Social Security Administration recognizes PTSD as a potentially disabling condition. PTSD claims are evaluated under Listing 12.15 of the Social Security regulations, which addresses trauma and stress related disorders. To meet or equal this listing, a claimant must have medical documentation of: (1) exposure to an actual or threatened death, serious injury or violence; (2) subsequent involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event (nightmares, flashbacks, etc.); (3) avoidance of external reminders of the event; (4) disturbance in mood and behavior and (5) increase in reactivity (e.g. sleep disturbance)-along with serious impairments to one’s (i) ability to understand, remember or apply information; (ii) interact with others; (iii) maintain focus, concentration or pace and (iv) adapt to circumstances or manage oneself.  This is why it is so important to seek medical care for your post traumatic stress disorder and report your symptoms. Not only for your own well-being, but in support of a claim for disability benefits. Keeping a diary of events and circumstances that you present to your doctor/therapist is a good way of ensuring your records actually exhibit what you are having to deal with.

Even if a claimant does not strictly meet the listing, Social Security may still award disability benefits if PTSD—alone or in combination with other physical or mental impairments—prevents the individual from returning to past work or performing other substantial work given their age, education, and work history.

If you or a loved one lives in Alabama, you are suffering from the effects of a Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) and you believe you are disabled as the result and are entitled to Social Security Disability (SSDI) or SSI benefits, don’t give up. Please feel free to contact one of the experienced Alabama Disability Attorneys at Powell and Denny today for a free consultation, and remember, virtual appointments are available through Zoom so you can meet with one of the attorneys of Powell and Denny from wherever you live.

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Powell and Denny have been selected as one of the Best Law Firms by U.S. News and World Report for each of the last 7 years, have been selected as one of Birmingham’s Top Lawyers by B-Metro Magazine for the last 3 years, have been selected by The National Advocates as one of the Top 20 Workers’ Compensation Firms (plaintiffs) and Powell and Denny, P.C.-has been selected as one of the “Best of the Best” law firms by The American Registry

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+ Powell and Denny have successfully represented injured workers from Birmingham, Huntsville, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Athens, Decatur, Town Creek Ardmore, Hartselle, Madison, Toney, Scottsboro, Ft. Payne, New Hope, Guntersville, Albertville, Boaz, Ashville, Anniston, Gadsden, Cullman, Jasper, Gardendale, Morris, Kimberly, Centerpoint, Leeds, Tarrant City, Fairfield, Hueytown, Bessemer, Adger, Tuscaloosa, Cordova, Alabaster, Pelham, Harpersville, Opelika, Phenix City, Montgomery, Clanton, Calera, Enterprise, Monroeville, Mobile, Evergreen, Centreville, Brent, West Blocton, Woodstock, Brierfield, Lakeview and towns and cities in between.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Security Disability Claims