Table of Contents
Overview
Not all wounds are visible. Some are unseen, deeper, and hurtful than anything that bleeds. They make you feel on edge and lonely. They hamper your day-to-day activities. Yeah, I am talking about something which you often simplify and debase as stress. It’s about Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This blog takes you deeper into the specifics of PTSD and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder compensation claims.
PTSD is a psychological disorder developed in some individuals in response to a traumatic incident like an accident, workplace injury, or physical abuse. Such traumatic events could make an individual feel afraid, shocked, and powerless. The likelihood of developing PTSD is determined by the nature of the triggering event.
It is estimated that 7-8% of Americans will develop PTSD in their lifetime. Women are two times more likely to develop PTSD than men, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
As per the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the following factors trigger post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Serious injury
- Death
- Sexual violation
Various reasons like genetic factors, societal factors, and biological and neurological factors are reported to be associated with PTSD. In some individuals, the impact of trauma has been found to have a cumulative effect.
Studies indicate that the amygdala of the brain, which is involved in processing emotions and modulating the fear response, is hyperactive in PTSD patients. The medial prefrontal cortex controls the stress response and emotional reactivity of the amygdala. In patients with PTSD, the mPFC appears to be smaller and less responsive. This imbalance is often associated with trauma.
Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Each individual doesn’t need to have common PTSD symptoms. The signs and symptoms may vary from one person to another depending upon the severity of the trauma and the general health condition of the individual. PTSD symptoms can be broadly divided into two:
Physical symptoms
Undermentioned are the common physical symptoms of PTSD
- Headaches
- Sweating and shivering
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Loss of immunity
Psychological symptoms
Psychological symptoms of post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are often complicated and described in the following criteria B-E mentioned in DSM-5
Criterion A:
Any one of the following factors should be established in PTSD
- Direct experience of the trauma
- Witnessing the event
- Learning about the traumatic event sustained by a close relative or friend
- Repeated exposure to distressing details of the trauma
Criterion B: Intrusion symptoms
The individual should experience at least one of the below-listed symptoms to be diagnosed with PTSD.
- Distressing memories of the traumatic event
- Vivid nightmares
- Recurrent flashbacks
- Haunting dreams or nightmares
Criterion C: Avoidance symptoms
The individual should experience at least one of the avoidance symptoms
- Avoiding places, or people related to the traumatic event.
- Refusal to discuss the event
Criterion D: Negative changes in thoughts
At least two of the following negative changes in thoughts and mood should be evident in the individual.
- Negative thoughts
- Memory problems
- Detachment from family and society
- Emotional numbness
- Depression
- Phobias
- Anxiety problems
Criterion E: Arousal and reactivity symptoms
At least two of the following changes in arousal should be experienced by the individual to be diagnosed as PTSD.
- Unwanted fear and feeling of danger
- Self-destructive or aggressive behavior
- Insomnia
- Concentration issues
- Irritability & angry outbursts
Criterion F:
To be diagnosed with PTSD, the above symptoms should persist for more than one month.
Criterion G:
The symptoms should lead to considerable distress and affect the individual’s life.
Criterion H:
The symptoms should not be due to a pre-existing medical condition or some form of substance use.
Diagnosis and Treatment
PTSD is often escorted by other mental disorders such as major depressive disorder, acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, panic disorder, anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder, and alcohol use disorder. A Meticulous evaluation is crucial to make sure the diagnosis of PTSD is precise.
A detailed discussion with the individual along with a psychological examination is the main tool for the diagnosis of PTSD. A physician uses the criteria mentioned in the DSM-5 for the analysis. Physical examination may also provide some clues to the physician.
Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder involves a combination of psychotherapy, psychological counseling, and medications. Psychotherapy strategies for PTSD utilize exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring. Medications include anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs like citalopram, amitriptyline, isocarboxazid, etc. Support and care from loved ones would also help the individual to get back on his feet.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Compensation
Any individual who encounters or witnesses a car, truck, motorcycle, aviation, boating crash, or animal attack may develop post-traumatic stress disorder. It may also happen after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic workplace accident, such as a crash, electrocution, crushing, or amputation.
Depending upon the triggering event that caused post-traumatic stress disorder, the victim is entitled to seek damages through a personal injury lawsuit or workers’ compensation claim.
In post-traumatic stress disorder claims, the severity of the physical injury should not be taken as a criterion to assess the intensity of the trauma. The emotional response of the victim to the accident is what PTSD is all about.
Personal Injury Claims for PTSD
When an accident is serious enough to induce PTSD in an individual, there are options to receive damages through the judiciary. The victim could claim for the losses incurred as a result of the impact of the accident on his life. PTSD is held as the basis for an emotional distress claim in personal injury litigation.
For instance, if an individual suffers from PTSD after a road accident, the claim for PTSD is to be filed against the negligent individual who caused the accident. The post-traumatic stress disorder compensation claims are covered under general damages of personal injury law. A Personal injury attorney could assist the plaintiff to sue the defendant party.
In personal injury litigations related to PTSD, the damages need to be established through expert testimony as mental agony is not measurable like physical pain and suffering. Diagnosis of the condition plays a crucial role in all post traumatic stress disorder compensation claims for personal injury. The victim would not be able to pursue the post-traumatic stress claim when the statute of limitations is crossed by the time he realizes the abyss of the condition.
Role of Expert Testimony
To proceed with a post traumatic stress disorder lawsuit without an adequate diagnosis report and expert testimony would never benefit a claim. An expert witness is usually required to validate a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) allegation. This is because an attorney may not have the clinical expertise to analyze the medical records of the plaintiff. The opinion of the witness would be based on the DSM-5 PTSD diagnostic criteria.
An expert witness PTSD testifies about the facts that would normally be associated with a PTSD condition. Expert witness opinion in such ptsd compensation claims would be presented from both the plaintiff’s and the defendant’s sides. The defendant side expert may try to establish that the condition of the plaintiff is not related to PTSD or it was a pre-existing one.
The PTSD expert witness may or may not be the plaintiff’s treating physician or therapist for the accident and related injuries. If he is not the treating physician in the case, another witness may be required. He would provide additional testimony that the plaintiff exhibits a potentially debilitating condition and the symptoms of PTSD, which indicates a positive diagnosis. The witness in such cases is called the fact witness.
The witness should establish the below-mentioned arguments
- The plaintiff had been subjected to an effective diagnosis.
- PTSD is connected to the accident in question
- The prognosis for the condition
In some states, based on the opinion of the expert witness, the jury would decide if the plaintiff suffers from PTSD or not. However, in a few states, the expert can provide an ‘ultimate opinion.’ The expert opinion would conclude that the plaintiff suffers from PTSD which is associated with the injury he sustained from the accident.
Workers’ Comp Benefits and PTSD
If an employee suffers from PTSD as an after-effect of a workplace injury, the claim comes under workers’ compensation. Work-related PTSD is often reported in personnel like firefighters, EMTs, police officers, paramedics, health care workers, and other first responders.
Workers’ compensation benefits for PTSD depend on the type of employment and the state. For an employee to claim workers’ compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, a licensed physician or psychologist should diagnose the condition as per the requirements of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
In some states, PTSD is covered under “mental/mental,” “mental-only,” or “psychological” injuries of the workers’ compensation law.
In 9 states, including California and Oregon, Compensation is granted for PTSD even if the plaintiff does not suffer any physical injury.
28 states, including Texas, New Mexico, and Utah, offer only limited coverage to psychological injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder. The trauma should directly be linked to an unusual event related to employment.
In 13 states like Alabama and Montana, PTSD is not compensable under workers’ compensation and occupational disease laws.
In Colorado, any employee who suffers from PTSD, even if it is a part of their routine work, could claim workers’ compensation benefits.
Benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder compensation may include payment for lost wages and medical expenses related to PTSD. If it is proved that the employee would never fully recover, compensation for permanent mental health impairment would also be provided through workers’ compensation benefits. However, for minor trauma, the employee may get the time off work and treatment resources required for recovery.
Veterans and PTSD Claims 2024
Military veterans are at a higher risk of witnessing stressful experiences and developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. A 2017 study involving 5,826 United States veterans reported that 12.9% of them suffered from PTSD.
Veterans affected with PTSD are entitled to veterans (VA) disability compensation through the US Department of Veterans Affairs. A qualified VA disability attorney can help the veteran obtain compensation.
For a veteran to entitle to VA disability compensation,
- A ‘stressor’ or a traumatic event related to PTSD symptoms should be established.
- The stressor should have occurred during the service of the veteran.
- It should have affected the active life of the individual.
- A qualified physician should diagnose the condition as post-traumatic stress disorder following the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V).
VA disability compensation proceeds through the Compensation and Pension examination (C&P exam) with the aid of the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ). The disability benefits for PTSD are based on a rating between 0-100 %, with in-between ratings of 10, 30, 50, and 70%.
Rating would rest on the social and occupational impairment, frequency, duration, and severity of symptoms in the individual. The benefits would cover expenses for treatment and to improve the quality of life of the individual. Additional benefits may be granted to the dependents of the veteran when diagnosed with at least 30% disability.
Final Thoughts
Time Doesn’t Always Help. It is essential to consult a physician when you feel any psychological distress after a mishap.
In some cases, indications of PTSD may develop long after the accident has taken place. In such cases, post traumatic stress disorder claims are often challenging for the attorneys to establish that the accident caused harm to the complainant.
A broken bone would be reflected in an x-ray but not a smashed mind. This makes a post-traumatic stress disorder claim a risky affair. If the proof does not back a PTSD claim, don’t bring it up, as it may question the credibility of the plaintiff.
Objective evidence and expert opinion may incontrovertibly confirm the PTSD damages sustained by the plaintiff. The victim should discuss all his emotional distress with the psychologist, which would be marked in his medical records. Later in the claiming process, the medical record review process would help the attorney to establish the arguments.
Consulting an attorney who understands PTSD and its interplay with other conditions is imperative in a PTSD claim. This would help the plaintiff to receive the eligible amount of compensation for post traumatic stress.
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