Georgia Vocational Evaluation Disability Evaluation Vocational Expert

Divorce, Veteran, LTD, SSA/SSI –

SouthEast Vocational Experts: Leaders in Forensic Mental Health & Vocational Evaluations.

Disability Evaluation process and procedures differ depending on the Venue as well as the issued involved in the case.

this will cover the major aspects – each case is different and therefore will have different needs, we do not have a one size fits all assessment process.

Disability Evaluation – Forensic VOCATIONAL EVALUATION  PROCESS

1) Document Review – General list:

Hospital, Physician, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, & Counselor records, Disability Forms.

2)  We Use Both a Structured and Unstructured Diagnostic  Vocational Interview

This will be a review of the Veteran’s history and will also outline the Veteran’s age, education, current work status, past work experience, skills, current medical & psychological impairment(s), treatments, and physical & psychological limitations.

(This can be in-person or through SKYPE)

3)  Assessment of Current Information and determining if more documentation is needed.

– If needed we will create Medical and/or Psychological Source forms and/or Mental Residual Functional Capacity (MRFC), Physical Residual Functional Capacity (RFC).  This will be the disabled individual or their Representative responsibility to get completed and returned to us.

4)  Vocational & Forensic Mental Health Evaluation (Psychometric Assessments) (most cases will require one or more tests)

Based on the case we will determine what assessments need to be completed. We will assess not only aptitudes but also may measure Attention, Concentration (ADHD), Memory, Cognitive Abilities, IQ, Mental Health / Psychiatric Measures (Depression, Bi-Polar, Acute Anxiety,  GAD, PTSD, Schizophrenia, etc.)

5)  Perform a Vocational Diagnostic Assessment of Residual Employability.

this includes a Transferable Skills Analysis

6)   Labor Market Research (if needed)

Private, local, state, and federal government labor market studies to determine if any significant number of jobs exist that the claimant can perform in the local and national labor market.

The results of the vocational evaluation enable the Vocational Expert to render an opinion as to the employability of the permanently injured veteran’s and their ability to perform substantial gainful work activity based on quantifiable, accurate, and current information using Veteran’s Disability standards.

SouthEast Vocational Experts and

VA – Veterans Disability – TDIU –

TDIU -EMPLOYABILITY  VOCATIONAL EVALUATION  PROCESS

This is more in-depth than the Social & Industrial Survey that the VA’s social worker will fill out, and again, the SW is not an Employability/Placeability Expert- This is why you need a Vocational Expert.

Our Vocational Experts will perform a Vocational Analysis of the Veteran

1) Document Review – General list:

Hospital, Physician, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, & Counselor records, Veteran’s Disability Forms.

2)  We Use Both a Structured and Unstructured Diagnostic  Vocational Interview

This will be a review of the Veteran’s history and will also outline the Veteran’s age, education, current work status, past work experience, skills, current medical & psychological impairment(s), treatments, and physical & psychological limitations.

(This can be in-person or through SKYPE)

3)  Assessment of Current Information and determining if more documentation is needed.

– If needed we will create Medical and/or Psychological Source forms and/or Mental Residual Functional Capacity (MRFC), Physical Residual Functional Capacity (RFC).  This will be the Veteran’s or their Representative responsibility to get completed and returned to us.

4)  Vocational Psychometric Assessment (most cases will require vocational assessments)

Based on the case we will determine what assessments need to be completed. We will assess not only aptitudes but also may measure Attention, Concentration, Memory, Cognitive Abilities, Mental Health Measures (Depression, Anxiety, GAD, PTSD, etc.)

5)  Perform a Vocational Diagnostic Assessment of Residual Employability.

6)   Labor Market Research (if needed)

Private, local, state, and federal government labor market studies to determine if any significant number of jobs exist that the claimant can perform in the local and national labor market.

The results of the vocational evaluation enable the Vocational Expert to render an opinion as to the employability of the permanently injured veteran’s and their ability to perform substantial gainful work activity based on quantifiable, accurate, and current information using Veteran’s Disability standards.

Divorce Vocational Evaluation

SouthEast Vocational Experts provides comprehensive evaluations. The purpose of a Vocational Expert in divorce litigation is to determine the earning capacity of a spouse or a plan for increasing that earning capacity when alimony or child support must be calculated. If an individual has a long term, salaried job, this is a simple task, however, this rarely is the case when earning capacity is a litigated issue.

What is a Divorce Vocational Evaluation or Spousal Earning Capacity Evaluation and what all is involved?

SouthEast Vocational Experts has become recognized for personalized service in determining a fair assessment of a spouse’s income potential in regard to spousal support and/or child support in divorce cases, and for success in enabling thousands of injured workers to successfully re-enter the job market. We use the most up-to-date computer programs to evaluate skills and interests in order to provide timely and efficient services.

A Vocational Expert in divorce proceedings can determine:

  • Spousal maintenance and child support (employability, placeability, and earning capacity)
  • Retraining plans, costs, and time frames
  • Consideration of Health of spouse and/or child, childcare and Return to Work
  • Vocational Expert witness services are not always needed.
  • Current Labor Market Value of an individual’s skills and talents
  • Ability to be retrained in higher paying work with a more promising future (rehabilitative alimony)
  • Comparable values of work skills when an individual is self-employed but showing a business loss
  • Feasibility and value of Self-Employment

Divorce Vocational Evaluation Assessment

Divorce Vocational Evaluation Expert

We can provide services throughout the SouthEast and Nationally: Atlanta, Georgia, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Mobile.

Vocational Expert

Career Counseling

As Certified Vocational Experts we offer Success in complete career development services. Our clients receive one-on-one, customized assessment and  counseling designed to identify their skills, personality traits and interests and uncover their working styles to understand their work personality to find satisfying careers to meet their needs.

SouthEast Vocational Experts  individual career development services are right for you. Whether you are in high school and in need of transition planning or  embarking on the road to a new career or have established yourself in a career, our goal to create a  Success Driven attitude that will empower you to identify the skills, actions, and knowledge you need to succeed.

We use a numb of high powered psycho-educational vocational assessments suited to our clients needs.

We can help people who:

  • Are in High School and need of Transition Planning.
  • Are looking to start a new career
  • Are seeking a new Career direction, but are unsure which path to take
  • Are making a major Career change
  • Are seeking to advance within the field they are in
  • Are considering investing in continued education or certifications
  • Have recently relocated
  • Are looking for satisfaction within their professional life

SouthEast Vocational Experts provides complete career development services. Our clients receive customized counseling designed to identify their skills, personality traits and interests and uncover satisfying careers. Often, career assessments are administered and individually interpreted such as, the vocational Profile Inventory, WAIS, MMPI-II, the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator, Career interest tests, personality tests, The Strong Interest Inventory and others. These assessments can yield important career information that can lead to exciting new careers. Counseling often helps make an immediate career transition. Sometimes, additional education or training may be required to make the change. Your counselor will help you make the appropriate decision and assist you in finding the necessary resources to make the changes necessary to succeed in a new career.

When you are ready to begin your job search, our counselors help you develop job search strategies that will help you succeed in your career transition. Result-oriented resumes and cover letters are created that result in interviews with potential employers. Practice of interview skills is an important part of the service and pertinent feedback is given to each person to build confidence and interview more effectively. The counselors at Success Image takes you from finding the right path to completing your job search journey.

YOU CAN Free yourself from doubt In today’s ever changing Technical and Global environment, people are changing jobs and careers more frequently than ever before, less than 7 years on average. Some changes occur by choice, but many are involuntary, due to disability, outsourcing, technology, etc. A change of job or career is typically the cause of much distress. Feelings of doubt or fear often accompany a job change. Success Image aims to alleviate these negative, stressful feelings and empower you to constructively address change.

YES – We can help you adapt to changes We provide Success attitude. We  assists clients in conducting a complete and comprehensive self-assessment. This self-assessment reveals skills, personality traits, and career interests that provide the client with a sense of satisfaction and a feeling of achievement. In today’s constantly changing and highly competitive workplace, career seekers must be able to transition their skills and adapt readily to change. People are often unaware that their skills may be employable in emerging careers. When you consider that we each spend approximately one third of our life at work, it is misfortunate to be unchallenged, unhappy or unfulfilled. The Career Center provides individual counseling and career assessment to assist and support men and women who are reinventing themselves and their careers or trying to grow within their current career. .

The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step-Turn small steps into a fulfilling journey One reason you may find it difficult to change or build careers is because of the misconception that the change must be accomplished in one big leap. Typically, this is not the case. You can often take small steps that lead you to where you want to be professionally while continuing to earn income. By viewing the career transition in this manner, you allow yourself to focus on the future rather than on the past. In order to make a successful transition, you must be willing to invest the time and energy in the process and enlist the support of others.

Success Image Career Counselors takes clients through a step-by-step process that helps identify and focus on career goals. You will explore new career options and make important decisions concerning your future. Throughout the entire process, our career counselors are available to assist you through individual counseling in person or on the telephone. Sessions lasts approximately 75 minutes.
We will help you Believe in yourself A lack of self-confidence is often the greatest barrier between a person and his or her career objectives. A lack of self-confidence can be self-defeating, often contributing to fear of change, an unwillingness to pursue desires, a sense of failure, and can hinder personal motivation. A self-confident person has the ability to overcome fear and act on opportunity in a positive and purposeful manner.

Confidence building is an important factor in all of our programs. The programs are designed to reduce fear and build confidence based on self-belief. A series of proven confidence-building exercises and techniques are used that enable even the most timid person to address fear and gain confidence. .

Confidence-building is an ongoing process. Our counselors are available to help our clients throughout their careers. In addition to counseling sessions, Success Image offers ongoing coaching sessions, in person or on the telephone, after the initial program is complete.

Career Counseling, Career Assessment

Forensic Mental Health Evaluation Methods

Forensic Evaluation Methods




 
I.   Define the Referral Questions
 
Mental health clinicians clarify the referral questions with the attorney prior to accepting the case.  In order to do so effectively, clinicians should be informed of the relevant statutes, case law, and other criteria considered by the legal decision makers. In addition, consideration should be given to social science research as it pertains to the legal questions of a given case.


II. Determine the Scope of the Evaluation
 
Mental health clinicians should determine which legal criteria are relevant for consideration in a forensic mental health assessment.  That is, before determining how a construct can be assessed, the clinician must determine the appropriateness of the construct.
 
Certain legal criteria are issues of fact (e.g., age, prior record) while others are “questions beyond the scope of clinical forensic expertise” (e.g., the impact of the offense on the community).  Although neither of these areas are formally “assessed,” they are not ignored and are “important for the assessment of legally relevant capacities and behavior that are addressed by the evaluation” (Heilbrun, Marczk, & DeMatteo, 2002).
 
III.  Translate Legal Criteria to Psychological Constructs
 
Mental health clinicians translate legal criteria to psychological constructs and develop a plan of action for assessing those constructs.
 
Legal criteria and psychological constructs can be difficult to define and operationalize.  Mental health clinicians first determine the meaning(s) and intent of legal terminology and criteria based on case law and other legal sources and analyses.  On a more practical level, mental health clinicians discuss with the referral source (judge, attorney) about the purpose(s) of the evaluation and potential uses of the evaluation results.  Based on this information, mental health clinicians determine what psychological constructs are relevant and applicable to the case.  In assessing these constructs, mental health clinicians rely on empirically validated assessment tools and methods that will be admissible in court.
 
IV.   Use of Psychological Tests and Methods
 
Mental health clinicians utilize valid, reliable, and generally accepted methods of accessing constructs.  Whenever possible, the mental health clinician uses multiple methods for assessing and describing constructs.   Although it may be tempting for mental health clinicians (and judges and attorneys) to rely solely on the results of a certain test, care must be taken to remember that a more comprehensive evaluation requires consideration of a multitude of factors measured or assesses through multiple measures and methods.
 
A.    Measures of Intelligence, Adaptive Functioning, and Academic Achievement:   The most widely used intelligence tests are the Wechsler Intelligence Scales (e.g., WAIS, WISC-IV).  These scales provide information about a person’s functioning in four areas: verbal ability; nonverbal reasoning and spatial abilities; processing speed; and working memory.
 
Adaptive Functioning:  Adaptive behavior can be measured with a number of tools (e.g., Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales), which are used to determine if a person meets criteria for Mental Retardation.  Information about a defendant’s adaptive functioning is also relevant to a determination of treatment needs.
 
Academic Functioning
:  There are a number of different ways to measure academic achievement, ranging from very brief screening tools to rather extensive assessments (e.g., Woodcock Johnson).  The Wide Range Achievement Tests provide a relatively brief but thorough assessment of achievement in Spelling, Reading, and Mathematics.  Practically, a measure of reading ability ensures that the defendant has the requisite skills to complete other tests (e.g., PAI, which has a 4th grade reading level).  In terms of the evaluation, a measure of academic achievement allows for the diagnosis or ruling-out of learning disabilities, which will guide decisions about treatment needs.
 
B.     Personality Testing and Measures of Psychopathology, Behavioral Disturbance, and Substance Abuse
:  There are hundreds of different personality tests (see See T, Grisso, G. Vincent, & D. Seagrave’s Mental Health Screening and Assessment in Juvenile Justice (2005) for a more complete review of instruments used in the juvenile justice system).  The most widely used comprehensive assessment instruments include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2 and MMPI-A); the Personality Assessment Instrument (PAI and PAI-A); the Diagnostic Interview Schedules; and the Millon Clinical Inventories.  These instruments assess a number of psychological constructs and personality traits.  Some have scales describing the person’s response style, which can be helpful in establishing the person’s attitude and motivation during the evaluation.
 
Other instruments are also available to assess specific areas, such as a particular disorder or problem area (e.g., substance abuse, anger, aggression).  These instruments are good supplements to the more comprehensive instruments described above but may not always include an index of a person’s response style.  In addition, these scales will vary in their utility and psychometric properties, and mental health clinicians should be able to demonstrate that the scales meet the standards for admissibility in court.
 
C.     Measures of Effort or Malingering:  Some general personality measures (e.g., MMPI, Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, PAI) have scales of embedded in them to assess response style and profile validity.  In addition, there are some basic interview techniques and means of assessing test-taking effort available to clinicians assessing adults and adolescents.
Mental health clinicians should be aware of the possibility that those involved in the legal system may exaggerate or fabricate symptoms.  As a matter of routine, some measure or other assessment of effort should be conducted in every case.  This will (hopefully) increase the validity of the findings and opinions, as well as preempt challenges during cross-examination.
D.     Forensic Assessment Instruments:
 
 
 
V.     Communicate with the Referral Source
 
Mental health clinicians maintain communication with the referral source and makes changes to the evaluation objectives and process as necessary.
 
Additional evaluation questions
:  Over the course of the evaluation, mental health clinicians may become aware of or suspect that a defendant lacks certain legal capacities (e.g., to stand trial, to waive Miranda rights).  With ongoing communication with the attorney, clinicians can recommend or question the attorney about the relevance of these issues in the preparation of the case.
 
Unhelpful Information is uncovered:  Sometimes defendants will provide conflicting or “harmful” information about the case.  It is also possible that as the evaluation progresses the evaluator begins to form an opinion that would not be helpful in the case.  Therefore, mental health professionals inform the attorneys of all information that is gathered, as well as how that information influences the forensic opinion throughout the evaluation process.
 
Conflicts of Interest:  When mental health clinicians become aware that there is an actual or potential conflict of interest – or when a clinician’s objectivity is otherwise compromised –  then the clinician must inform the attorney of those conflicts.
 
VI.             Applying Psychological Research
 
Mental health clinicians maintain up-to-date knowledge of research relevant to the forensic issues of a case and are able to apply that research appropriately.
 
VII.       Communicating the Results
 
             Mental health clinicians effectively communicates results with legal professionals
         and decision makers.
 
 
          Methods of Communicating Results:
 
No Report or Testimony:  Following the evaluation and prior to the hearing and preparation of any report, the mental health clinician and attorney should discuss the benefits and risks of using the expert; preparing a letter/report; and/or testifying in court.
 
Letters/Reports:  Letters are usually brief, approximately 2-4 pages in length; highlight important aspects of the juvenile’s history; and it concludes with information relevant to the legal criteria described in the general statutes.  Reports are lengthier and provide a more detailed account of the juvenile’s history; evaluation process; and description of diagnoses (if any), opinions and recommendations.
 
Testimony:  If testimony is required, it may be helpful for the mental health clinician and/or attorney to develop a list of possible questions, including potential cross-examination questions.
Regardless of format, make sure that all the components of the statutes are covered – as well as any other pertinent factors in the case – before submitting the report or calling the expert to testify.
 
In addition:
 
·         The report/testimony should respond directly to the referral question and legal criteria;
 
·         Communications should avoid jargon;
 
·         The evaluator should not respond directly to the ultimate legal question directly;
 
·         The evaluator should provide a full description of findings so that they need change little under cross-examination (Heilbrun, Marczk, & DeMatteo, 2002)


Atlanta Vocational Transitional Evaluation for your Child

 

Schools will pay for Transitional Evaluations however, many parents often have to hire an attorney or school advocate in order for this to occur.

We provide services for school aged children as well as college students with learning disabilities, attention problems, and behavioral concerns.

We provide the following Transitional Vocational Evaluation services:

Comprehensive Vocational Transitional valuations that define children’s learning profile, academic strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for effective remediation and accommodations. The evaluations assess the following areas:

Complete psycho-educational transitional evaluation – $1950

  • comprehensive intelligence testing/Cognitive Processes (e.g., processing speed, flexibility)
  • comprehensive memory testing
  • comprehensive achievement testing in all academic areas
  • computerized attention assessment
  • behavior/emotional/social assessment
  • comprehensive testing of all neuropsychological processing areas appropriate, such as processing speed, visual-motor skills, visual-perceptual skills, auditory processing skills, phonological processing skills, attention/concentration skills
  • Interest Testing
  • Manual Dexterity
  • Vocational and Work Samples
  • comprehensive transitional evaluation  report

Emotional/Behavioral Assessment

  • Call and speak to us regarding your concerns in order to obtain an estimated cost of assessment.  These are typically completed on an hourly fee basis.

Academic Assessment only

  • Achievement testing in all academic areas (basic reading, reading comprehension, math reasoning, math calculation, written expression) with a brief written report – $500

Consultation

  • Our clinicians are available to meet with you to discuss behavioral, learning, and developmental issues.  We are happy to attend meetings at your child’s school or complete observations in alternate locations. Charges for these services are $175 per hour.

Vocational Expert in Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia Vocational Evaluation Disability Evaluation Vocational Expert

Divorce, Veteran, LTD, SSA/SSI –

SouthEast Vocational Experts: Leaders in Forensic Mental Health & Vocational Evaluations.

Disability Evaluation process and procedures differ depending on the Venue as well as the issued involved in the case.

this will cover the major aspects – each case is different and therefore will have different needs, we do not have a one size fits all assessment process.

Disability Evaluation – Forensic VOCATIONAL EVALUATION  PROCESS

1) Document Review – General list:

Hospital, Physician, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, & Counselor records, Disability Forms.

2)  We Use Both a Structured and Unstructured Diagnostic  Vocational Interview

This will be a review of the Veteran’s history and will also outline the Veteran’s age, education, current work status, past work experience, skills, current medical & psychological impairment(s), treatments, and physical & psychological limitations.

(This can be in-person or through SKYPE)

3)  Assessment of Current Information and determining if more documentation is needed.

– If needed we will create Medical and/or Psychological Source forms and/or Mental Residual Functional Capacity (MRFC), Physical Residual Functional Capacity (RFC).  This will be the disabled individual or their Representative responsibility to get completed and returned to us.

4)  Vocational & Forensic Mental Health Evaluation (Psychometric Assessments) (most cases will require one or more tests)

Based on the case we will determine what assessments need to be completed. We will assess not only aptitudes but also may measure Attention, Concentration (ADHD), Memory, Cognitive Abilities, IQ, Mental Health / Psychiatric Measures (Depression, Bi-Polar, Acute Anxiety,  GAD, PTSD, Schizophrenia, etc.)

5)  Perform a Vocational Diagnostic Assessment of Residual Employability.

this includes a Transferable Skills Analysis

6)   Labor Market Research (if needed)

Private, local, state, and federal government labor market studies to determine if any significant number of jobs exist that the claimant can perform in the local and national labor market.

The results of the vocational evaluation enable the Vocational Expert to render an opinion as to the employability of the permanently injured veteran’s and their ability to perform substantial gainful work activity based on quantifiable, accurate, and current information using Veteran’s Disability standards.

SouthEast Vocational Experts and

Transitonal Vocational Evaluation – Georgia School to Work Assessment

Schools will pay for Transitional Evaluations however, many parents often have to hire an attorney or school advocate in order for this to occur.

We provide services for school aged children as well as college students with learning disabilities, attention problems, and behavioral concerns.

We provide the following Transitional Vocational Evaluation services:

Comprehensive Vocational Transitional valuations that define children’s learning profile, academic strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for effective remediation and accommodations. The evaluations assess the following areas:

Complete psycho-educational transitional evaluation – $1950

  • comprehensive intelligence testing/Cognitive Processes (e.g., processing speed, flexibility)
  • comprehensive memory testing
  • comprehensive achievement testing in all academic areas
  • computerized attention assessment
  • behavior/emotional/social assessment
  • comprehensive testing of all neuropsychological processing areas appropriate, such as processing speed, visual-motor skills, visual-perceptual skills, auditory processing skills, phonological processing skills, attention/concentration skills
  • Interest Testing
  • Manual Dexterity
  • Vocational and Work Samples
  • comprehensive transitional evaluation  report

Emotional/Behavioral Assessment

  • Call and speak to us regarding your concerns in order to obtain an estimated cost of assessment.  These are typically completed on an hourly fee basis.

Academic Assessment only

  • Achievement testing in all academic areas (basic reading, reading comprehension, math reasoning, math calculation, written expression) with a brief written report – $500

Consultation

  • Our clinicians are available to meet with you to discuss behavioral, learning, and developmental issues.  We are happy to attend meetings at your child’s school or complete observations in alternate locations. Charges for these services are $175 per hour.

Vocational Expert in Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia Atlanta School Transitional Evaluation – vocational

Schools will pay for Transitional Evaluations however, many parents often have to hire an attorney or school advocate in order for this to occur.

We provide services for school aged children as well as college students with learning disabilities, attention problems, and behavioral concerns.

We provide the following Transitional Vocational Evaluation services:

Comprehensive Vocational Transitional valuations that define children’s learning profile, academic strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for effective remediation and accommodations. The evaluations assess the following areas:

Complete psycho-educational transitional evaluation – $1950

  • comprehensive intelligence testing/Cognitive Processes (e.g., processing speed, flexibility)
  • comprehensive memory testing
  • comprehensive achievement testing in all academic areas
  • computerized attention assessment
  • behavior/emotional/social assessment
  • comprehensive testing of all neuropsychological processing areas appropriate, such as processing speed, visual-motor skills, visual-perceptual skills, auditory processing skills, phonological processing skills, attention/concentration skills
  • Interest Testing
  • Manual Dexterity
  • Vocational and Work Samples
  • comprehensive transitional evaluation  report

Emotional/Behavioral Assessment

  • Call and speak to us regarding your concerns in order to obtain an estimated cost of assessment.  These are typically completed on an hourly fee basis.

Academic Assessment only

  • Achievement testing in all academic areas (basic reading, reading comprehension, math reasoning, math calculation, written expression) with a brief written report – $500

Consultation

  • Our clinicians are available to meet with you to discuss behavioral, learning, and developmental issues.  We are happy to attend meetings at your child’s school or complete observations in alternate locations. Charges for these services are $175 per hour.

Vocational Expert in Atlanta, Georgia

understanding PTSD and TDIU for Veterans

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

If you are here because you have been denied veterans’ benefits for PTSD, you are not alone. In 2012, the VA claimed its own claims error rate was 14%. However, the VA’s own inspector general found a claims error rate of 38%.That means by even the VA’s own estimates they make mistakes in almost 4 out of 10 benefits claims cases! Additionally, appeals represent a third of the VA’s pending disability claims which means 1 in 3 cases the VA is processing are veterans appealing a denial.

A TDIU Vocational Evaluation can assist you greatly in gaining Objective Evidence of your Psychiatric Limitations/Mental Health Issues, to get an Objective Diagnosis, severity of issues and how they affect your employability and in Vocational Terms

How Do I Get Veterans’ Benefits for PTSD?

To get veterans’ benefits for PTSD, you need to establish a service connection between your PTSD disability and your time in service. PTSD is unique among veteran disability types because of the importance placed on stressors in diagnosing PTSD.  So, in order to get VA disability benefits for PTSD you will need to get a service connection by establishing a stressor or stressors that qualify you for a diagnosis of PTSD.

There are essentially 3 different approaches to proving stressors.

  1. The first type of stressor involves a situation where a combat veteran describes a stressor that is consistent with his or her combat exposure.
  2. The second type of stressor involves a situation where the veteran describes a stressor that is not associated with his verified combat exposure.
  3. The third type off stressor involves cases where the veteran’s PTSD stressor is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity while stationed in a combat theater of operations.

Credible supporting evidence is important in getting approved for PTSD VA benefits. But in practice, the “credible supporting evidence” requirement has been a major impediment to many Veterans receiving compensation for their PTSD diagnosis. Frankly, many things that happen in the service are never properly documented or recorded. As a result, it can be very difficult to prove that the stressor took place. Fortunately, in July 2010 the VA issued a new rule making it somewhat easier to prove that a stressor event happened during service. Under the new regulation, if a Veteran’s claimed stressors are related to the Veteran’s fear of hostile or military or terrorist activity then he could qualify for PTSD based on this as a stressor.

Additionally, in order to get VA benefits for PTSD, you might also need to get a private VOCATIONAL EXPERT OPININON to establish a connection between your service and your diagnosis and Vocational Limitations.

What Are PTSD Veterans Benefits?

Veterans benefits for PTSD are granted based on graduated disability ratings of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% or 100%.  Veterans who receive a disability rating of 0% do not receive disability benefits because there is little or no impairment. Disability benefit payments begin at 10% and increase at each rating level.

Veterans have a wide range of benefits available to them. They range from VA pension benefits (non-service connected) and VA compensation benefits – to vocational rehabilitation and grants for adapted vehicles, housing and equipment.

Why Did the VA Deny My Veteran’s Benefit Claim for PTSD that a Vocational Expert and Help with?

The most common reasons why the VA denies benefits for PTSD are:

  1. The VA also likes to deny PTSD claims on the grounds that you don’t have a diagnosis of PTSD.  In many cases, however, if you are not diagnosed with PTSD you may be diagnosed with depression or generalized anxiety.  You would benefit from a TDIU Vocational Evaluation that tests for psychiatric/Mental Health issues and lists their severity and relationship to vocational limitations.
  2. Another reason why the VA denies PTSD benefits claims is because many veterans make the mistake of re-filing PTSD benefits claims without any new evidence or they submit evidence that is not really material to their PTSD, South East VE can provide you with New Objective Evidence.

In order to ensure the greatest degree of success in re-opened disability claims, we recommend that you look very carefully at the reason why the VA denied your claim the last time.  For instance, if the reason they denied you before was because there was no evidence of a present disability, then submitting a new medical record showing a diagnosed condition could potentially aid in getting your claim reopened.  The new evidence you submit should address one of the reasons why VA denied your benefits before.

SouthEast Vocational Experts can provide Objective Evidence of your PTSD and level of severity through our objective Testing.