PTSD and Social Security Disability

PTSD and Social Security Disability

The other day I was reading some articles related to Social Security Disability claims, and I came across the attached article detailing how the 7^th Circuit Court of Civil Appeals recently reversed and remanded a claim for disability benefits that was denied based on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  In this case, the claimant was a veteran who had been raped while in the service and how this led to their suffering from PTSD.  The administrative law judge in this case overstepped their boundaries and substituted their opinion for that of the treating doctors-which the law does not allow.

Most of the time we think of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, we imagine a horrible accident that the claimant was involved in, or in the case of military members-the horrors that they are exposed to in war zones, and these are events which can led to PTSD, but I have been shocked to learn how many women suffer from PTSD because of sexual assault.  I was not surprised that this could led to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Panic Attacks but was shocked at the number of women who have been violated.  Even more so, the number of women who were assaulted while serving our country in the military.

As a country, we have to do better.  Women should not have to fear being out by themselves or concerned about what they would have to go through should they report being assaulted-especially when the assailant holds a position of authority over their victim.  Trying to just deal with it alone often leads to worsening mental problems; no one who has been sexually assaulted should fear speaking out or trying to receive treatment for their physical and mental injuries.

If you believe you or someone you care about may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, it is important that you seek medical attention.  First and foremost, medical treatment can hopefully help you cope with the trauma you have experienced and allow you to regain the life you enjoyed before the event.  Secondly, when filing for disability benefits due to the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, it is vital to have a well-documented mental health history as it takes a medical professional to diagnosis PTSD.

If you or a loved one lives in Alabama, you are suffering from the effects of post traumatic stress disorder and you believe you are disabled as the result and are entitled to Social Security Disability or SSI benefits, you do not have to take on the Social Security Administration alone. Please feel free to talk with one of the experienced Alabama Disability Attorneys at Powell and Denny today.  Free consultations are available in person; virtual appointments are also available via Zoom, so you can meet with a lawyer from the comfort of your home.

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PTSD and Social Security Disability