Mayo clinic defines PTSD as follows: “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that triggered by a terrifying event- either experiencing it or witnessing it symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping. With time and good self-care, these usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.
Getting effective treatment after PTSD symptoms develop can be critical to reduce symptoms and improve function.
Google defines PTSD as follows: “A disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.”
The condition may last for months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions.
Symptoms may include nightmares or unwanted memories of the trauma, avoidance of situations that bring back memories of the trauma heightened reactions anxiety or depressed mood.
Treatment includes different types of trauma focused psychotherapy as well as medications to manage symptoms.
The Social Security Administration in its medical listings fails to recognize or discuss PTSD, it refers to it in the Medical Listing 12.15 as trauma and stressors-relates disorders and fails to define it simply states that these are the requirements to meet or equal this Medical Listing.
12.15 Trauma-and stressor-related disorders (see 12.00B11), satisfied by A and B, or A and C:
A.
- Medical documentation of all of the following:
- Exposure to actual 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 starle response, sleep disturbance).
AND
B.
- Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 00F):
- Understand, remember, or apply information (see 00E1).
- Interact with others (00E2).
- Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 00E3).
- Adapt or manage oneself (see 00E4).
OR
C.
- Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent,” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both:
- Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychological support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 00G2b); and
- Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are mot already part of your daily life (see 00G2c).
As you can see it does not define the condition it is limited as to what you most prove in order to be approved for Social Security benefits.
Do not feel bad or feel that the above is difficulty, to understand because your medical records to not mention in detail the above requirements.
After all, VA doctors talk is it service connected, and they do not use the word extreme or marked in these records as well as most do not private doctors or in free clinics.
The truth is these Medical Listings are not created to make it easy for approval of benefits it is only created to explain what are requiring from you in order to approve your claim based on this Medical Listing.
Again, it is not the Medical Listing alone, it is how your PTSD, prevents you from being able to maintain a regular job and not how it affects you in your personal life.
The truth is that PTSD affects everyone differently, it also may or not be uncontrollable simply can occasionally affect you; it is here where you need an experienced lawyer in Social Security. Social Security is the only thing I do, my practice is dedicated and specializing in cases where the Social Security denies you claim incorrectly, it will be my honor to discuss your case, call me for a phone or in person meeting, to schedule an appointment by calling 407-894-4779.