ERISA & Insurance Attorney John Tucker Elected Treasurer of AAJ ERISA, Health and Disability Insurance Litigation Group

Tampa Bay: Attorney John Tucker was elected Treasurer of the ERISA, Health and Disability Insurance Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) at its Annual Convention in Vancouver, British Columbia on July 10, 2010.

Mr. Tucker's main office is located in Clearwater, Florida, and he has a national practice in ERISA and Disability Insurance claims and litigation. He is a frequent lecturer and author on ERISA (the federal law that governs employer-sponsored group benefits), Disability Insurance, and disability benefits.

Tucker Ludin - Legal Solutions is a leading disability benefit law firm, providing comprehensive representation to those making claims or litigating in the areas of ERISA, Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability benefits, Individual Disability Insurance, Social Security Disability and Veterans (V.A.) Disability Compensation.


Copyright (c) 2010 by John V. Tucker and Tucker & Ludin, P.A. All rights reserved. For assistance with your Long Term Disability claim, ERISA Disability benefit claim, Social Security Disability claim, or Veterans Disability compensation or pension claim, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ('PTSD')?

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition resulting from exposure to direct or indirect threat of death, serious injury or a physical threat. The events that can cause PTSD are called "stressors” and may include natural disasters, accidents or deliberate man-made events/disasters, including war. Symptoms of PTSD can include recurrent thoughts of a traumatic event, reduced involvement in work or outside interests, emotional numbing, hyper-alertness, anxiety and irritability. The disorder can be more severe and longer lasting when the stress is human initiated action (example: war, rape, terrorism).

In my experience representing disabled veterans, PTSD can run the gamut from limited symptoms to overwhelming impairment. Combat-related conditions can obviously cause the disorder, but other stressors such as sexual assault are common. Any stressor that is service-connected can be the basis for a Veterans disability claim. I will address the stressors in my next installment.

Copyright (c) 2010 by John V. Tucker and Tucker & Ludin, P.A. All rights reserved. For assistance with your Long Term Disability claim, ERISA Disability benefit claim, Social Security Disability claim, or Veterans Disability compensation or pension claim, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.

New VA Regulations Regarding PTSD and Disability - Some Media Interviews and Commentary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has made it easier for Veterans to make a claim for disability based on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ('PTSD'). In the coming weeks, I will discuss the changes, but here are a few links to internet sources discussing the amended PTSD regulations. As always, you should read the regulation itself to know exactly what the law is, but these links offer an introduction into what VA recently changed when it amended its regulations regarding PTSD claims.

Charlotte Observer
Huntington News Network
PennLive.com
PRN Newswire
San Diego Radio Station KBPS (audio and transcript of good interview)
VetsFirst

Comment: Again, read these stories as an introduction and summary to the new PTSD regulations. One of the biggest problems in making a claim for VA compensation based upon a disability that came from PTSD has been connecting the Veteran's PTSD to their time in service. The new VA regulations appear to make this easier. Look for more comment on the new PTSD regs in the coming weeks here on Tucker's Disability Benefits Blog.

Copyright (c) 2010 by John V. Tucker and Tucker & Ludin, P.A. All rights reserved. For assistance with your Long Term Disability claim, ERISA Disability benefit claim, Social Security Disability claim, or Veterans Disability compensation or pension claim, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.

On July 12, 2010, the VA Changed Its Regulations for PTSD Disability Claims - Link to VA's New PTSD Regulations Fact Sheet

On July 12, 2010, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced significant changes to its regulations that govern veterans disability claims based on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (known as 'PTSD'). I will be blogging more about the new regulations iover the next several days, but VA has published a Fact Sheet with Questions and Answers about the new regulation, and I wanted to get the link to our readers.

More than 400,000 veterans currently are receiving compensation benefits for PTSD. In fiscal year 2009, the same number - 400,000 - were treated for PTSD at VA health facilities. Of those, nearly 70,000, or 19%, were veterans of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. However, the new regulation impacts veterans from any service period.

Click on this link to view the VA Fact Sheet on the New PTSD Regulations.

Copyright (c) 2010 by John V. Tucker and Tucker & Ludin, P.A. All rights reserved. For assistance with your Long Term Disability claim, ERISA Disability benefit claim, Social Security Disability claim, or Veterans Disability compensation or pension claim, call Disability Lawyer John Tucker at (866) 282-5260.