Supreme Court Clarifies Requirements to Prove Entitlement to PTSD Benefits

The Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously ruled that entitlement to benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder does not require an independent assessment to verify the diagnosis. Case: Smith v. Carver County, No. A19-0199, 07/17/2019, published. Facts: Chadd Smith was deputy sheriff for Carver County for nearly 10 years, witnessing several gruesome and tragic events. Smith resigned in June 2016 and went to see Michael Keller, a licensed psychologist. Keller diagnosed Smith with post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. Smith filed a worke...