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Licensed psychologist conducting evaluation for VA disability claim

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Psychological Evaluations for VA Disability Claims

Licensed clinical psychologists conduct structured evaluations for PTSD, depression, anxiety, TBI-related behavioral residuals, and other mental health conditions claimed in VA disability cases.

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Disclaimer: Semper Solutus provides medical documentation services and educational information. We do not prepare or submit claims or represent veterans before the VA.
A psychological evaluation for VA disability purposes is a comprehensive clinical assessment conducted by a licensed psychologist that documents the presence, severity, and functional impact of a mental health condition. For veterans claiming PTSD, depression, anxiety, or TBI-related psychiatric residuals, a thorough psychological evaluation provides the clinical foundation that VA adjudicators require to evaluate the claim.

Our Evaluators

Who Performs the Evaluation

All psychological evaluations at Semper Solutus are conducted by licensed clinical psychologists with specific experience in VA disability documentation standards. Our evaluators hold doctoral-level credentials (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) and maintain active licensure in their respective states. They are familiar with the diagnostic criteria the VA applies when rating mental health conditions and with the clinical language and structure that VA adjudicators expect in a psychological evaluation submitted as evidence.

Licensed clinical psychologists are among the most credentialed providers for this type of evaluation. Their doctoral-level training in psychopathology, diagnostic assessment, and psychological testing gives their opinions significant clinical weight. When an evaluation is authored by a licensed clinical psychologist who documents their review of the veteran's records and provides a structured DSM-5-aligned assessment, VA raters have the evidence needed to evaluate a mental health claim with meaningful clinical detail.

Semper Solutus evaluators do not have treating relationships with the veterans they evaluate. Their opinions are independent, based on available documentation and a structured clinical interview, and are produced exclusively for evidentiary purposes in the VA disability claims context.

Clinical Standards

DSM-5 Alignment and What Gets Assessed

Every psychological evaluation is structured around DSM-5 diagnostic criteria (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition). DSM-5 is the standard diagnostic framework used by mental health clinicians across the United States and is the clinical reference the VA uses when evaluating mental health conditions under its rating schedules.

The evaluation assesses the following elements, as applicable to the veteran's claimed conditions:

  • Symptom presentation and severity across DSM-5 criteria for the relevant disorder(s)
  • Onset and duration of symptoms in relation to documented military service or stressor events
  • Trauma history relevant to the claimed condition, including combat exposure, military sexual trauma (MST), and other qualifying stressors
  • Cognitive functioning, memory, concentration, and executive function where TBI-related conditions are at issue
  • Behavioral and emotional dysregulation patterns and their connection to the claimed condition
  • Prior treatment history, including medications, therapy, and hospitalizations
  • Comorbid conditions and their relationship to the primary claimed condition

The resulting evaluation provides the diagnostic clarity VA raters need to assign a mental health rating and, where applicable, evaluate service connection for a psychological condition.

Conditions

Conditions Covered

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD evaluations address DSM-5 Criterion A stressors, intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and hyperarousal. Evaluations document how the veteran's symptom profile aligns with the diagnostic criteria and establishes the connection to the qualifying in-service stressor.

Major Depressive Disorder

Depression evaluations document depressive episodes, symptom severity, functional impact, and the relationship between the condition and military service or service-connected conditions. Secondary depression claims, such as depression secondary to chronic pain or PTSD, are a common use case.

Anxiety Disorders

Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, and adjustment disorder evaluations address symptom profiles, functional limitations, and the nexus to service. Anxiety disorders are frequently claimed as secondary to PTSD or other service-connected conditions, and the evaluation documents those relationships explicitly.

TBI-Related Cognitive and Behavioral Residuals

Cognitive and behavioral residuals of traumatic brain injury, including memory impairment, executive dysfunction, irritability, emotional dysregulation, and personality changes, are assessed against the veteran's documented TBI history. These evaluations are particularly relevant for veterans with blast exposure or documented head trauma during service.

MST-Related Conditions

Military sexual trauma is a recognized basis for PTSD and related mental health conditions under VA regulations. Our evaluators are experienced in conducting trauma-informed evaluations that document the clinical presentation of MST-related conditions with appropriate sensitivity and clinical rigor.

Other Mental Health Conditions

Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), somatic symptom disorder, insomnia disorder, and other DSM-5 conditions that arise in connection with military service or as secondary to service-connected conditions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.

Impact Assessment

Functional Impact Analysis

The VA rates mental health conditions using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, which evaluates how the condition affects the veteran's occupational and social functioning. A psychological evaluation that documents functional impact in concrete, specific terms gives VA raters the information they need to assign an appropriate disability rating.

Semper Solutus psychological evaluations include an occupational functioning analysis that documents how the veteran's psychiatric symptoms affect their ability to maintain employment, manage workplace relationships, sustain concentration and task completion, and handle the stressors of a work environment. Where applicable, the evaluation notes any job losses, absences, disciplinary actions, or terminations attributable to the condition.

The evaluation also includes a social functioning analysis that documents the impact on personal relationships, family functioning, social engagement, and community participation. Both the occupational and social analyses provide the specific functional evidence that distinguishes a well-documented psychological evaluation from a general narrative description of symptoms.

How It Works

Process and Timeline

Step 1. Consultation and Records Intake

Schedule a consultation through our booking page. During intake, you provide your available records, including service treatment records, VA and private mental health records, any prior C&P exam reports, and any other documentation relevant to your claim. The completeness of records provided affects the depth of the resulting evaluation.

Step 2. Records Review

The assigned licensed clinical psychologist reviews all submitted documentation before the clinical interview. This review ensures the evaluation is grounded in your documented history rather than relying solely on your self-report during the interview, which strengthens the evidentiary value of the resulting opinion.

Step 3. Clinical Interview

A structured clinical interview is conducted via teleconference. The interview follows a standardized format consistent with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for the conditions being evaluated. Interview duration varies based on the number of conditions being assessed, typically ranging from 60 to 90 minutes.

Step 4. Evaluation Drafting and Quality Review

The psychologist drafts the complete evaluation following the interview and records review. The document undergoes a quality review before delivery to confirm it meets our standards for clinical completeness, DSM-5 alignment, functional impact documentation, and VA claims compliance.

Step 5. Delivery

The completed psychological evaluation is delivered electronically. Standard turnaround is approximately 7 to 10 business days from the date of the clinical interview. Expedite options may be available for time-sensitive filings. Discuss your timeline during your consultation.

FAQ

Psychological Evaluation Questions

No. Semper Solutus psychological evaluations are conducted by independent licensed clinical psychologists who do not have a prior treating relationship with the veteran. You do not need to be currently in therapy or under a treating psychologist's care. Many veterans seeking a psychological evaluation for VA purposes have no current mental health provider, or their current provider is not available to produce a VA-specific evaluation. Our evaluators are experienced in producing independent evaluations for veterans in all stages of the claims process.

No. A C&P mental health exam is scheduled and conducted by a VA-contracted examiner as part of the VA's own evaluation process. A psychological evaluation from Semper Solutus is an independent clinical assessment that you submit as supporting evidence. Independent evaluations are typically more comprehensive than C&P exams, involve a more thorough records review, and allow the evaluating psychologist to produce a document tailored to the specific evidence needs of your claim. Both types of opinions are entered into the VA record, and the VA must consider both when adjudicating.

PTSD claims require both a confirmed in-service stressor and a PTSD diagnosis to establish service connection. A psychological evaluation addresses the clinical and diagnostic components of that requirement. Stressor verification is handled through military records and, in some cases, lay evidence. During your consultation, we can discuss what stressor documentation you have available and whether the clinical evaluation can be structured to address the specific evidence requirements for your PTSD claim scenario.

Yes. Secondary mental health claims are a common use case for psychological evaluations. For example, a veteran claiming depression secondary to a service-connected chronic pain condition, or anxiety secondary to a service-connected physical disability, benefits from a psychological evaluation that documents the mental health diagnosis and its connection to the primary service-connected condition. The evaluation works alongside an independent medical opinion or nexus letter addressing the physical condition to build a complete evidentiary picture for the secondary claim.

Get a DSM-5 Aligned Psychological Evaluation for Your VA Claim

Our licensed clinical psychologists conduct independent evaluations structured for VA disability purposes. Schedule a consultation to discuss your mental health claim.

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