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jcox129

Seaman
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About jcox129

  • Birthday 01/29/1982

Profile Information

  • Location
    Nebraska

Previous Fields

  • Service Connected Disability
    70%
  • Branch of Service
    USA
  • Hobby
    writing

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jcox129's Achievements

  1. Thanks. My attorney referred me to a SSDI lawyer too, and I just contacted his office and am waiting to hear back.
  2. Update: Last week I received my award letter. My attorneys had filed an NOD in January. I am now 70% for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, and they gave me retroactive pay starting December 2013 with three dependents. My deposit went through the day after I received my award letter. We are now filing for Individual Unemployability. I will post in Success Stories when I have more time, but wanted to thank everyone for the encouragement and advice.
  3. Thanks everyone for the solid advice. I was told that an initial PTSD diagnosis for these purposes needed to be from a VA doctor, whereas mine are from civilians. I made a couple of missteps. For instance, my DBQ and Nexus were from a civilian LIMHP, which apparently are not qualified to do initial DBQ but I think can only do review DBQs - I researched it last night because the C&P doctor discredited my private provider's DBQ on the basis of the lack of credentials. But she also ignored two other diagnoses of PTSD by qualified providers. I think filing an NOD is probably the best route. I will read up more on DROs, as I am not very familiar with the process. My letter is not in hand yet, though it has supposedly been mailed and I'm hoping to get it soon because I live in the same city as my VARO. Borderline Personality Disorder, the C&P diagnosis, is considered an unratable condition. Thanks for all the helpful advice.
  4. Today both my PTSD due to MST and my Major Depression claims were denied. I had my C&P on 12/17/2015. I picked up my exam notes from the records department of my local CBOC where the exam had been held, and just a few minutes later my MST coordinator called to tell me of my denial. I checked e-Benefits and it has already been finalized with notification letter sent. The C&P examiner did several things I find fishy and that I was uncomfortable with during the exam, and then apparently diagnosed me as Borderline Personality Disorder and reported that I don't have PTSD. I had been diagnosed with PTSD by different (civilian)doctors in both 2006 and in 2014. I am very upset by this because in her report, she states that I meet all the criteria, but that she won't count the D and E criteria because she thinks it fits better with a BPD diagnosis. I have no idea how or why she made this determination. She said my symptoms were "long-standing." Well, yes, they were, because the stressor that caused my PTSD occured 17 years ago. This is what her notes said when she denied that I have PTSD. “The Veteran is reporting an alleged sexual assault during her time in the Army that would meet Criterion A and reporting symptoms consistent with criteria B, C, F, G, and H. However, her reported mood symptoms, anxiety, impulsivity, substance use, irritability and angry outbursts, risky behaviors, risky sexual behaviors, and social and occupational are better accounted for by her BPD diagnosis.” “The symptoms she is reporting that would meet PTSD criteria D & E are better accounted for by her BPD diagnosis, appear to be long-standing and more of a characterological nature.” I don't feel comfortable at this time sharing more of her C&P notes. It is still too fresh for me. I am trying to figure out what my next step will be...filing for an appeal or a reconsideration. Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.
  5. Congratulations on your quick win! Thanks for sharing your success story!
  6. Congratulations! That is great news!
  7. I've noticed a lot of people posting their exams to ask for opinions on how it went. Where and how soon can I try to get records of my own exam? Thanks in advance!
  8. Just FYI: I got a phone call from the VA Office of Communication and Case Management today (Googled the # on my caller ID to see who had called me from Washington D.C. without leaving a message - I assumed a bill collector). On my caller ID was the 202-273-5674 number. When I called it, there was a message saying the phone number had changed and that the new one is 202-530-9470. When I called it, I got through immediately. Just wanted to update the phone number for all of you. 202-530-9470.
  9. broncovet - Yes, the timeline was too good to be true. I did expect that it would take longer - I personally know people who have waited a decade - so I do know that anything the VA employees say should be taken with a grain of salt. As it stands, I did receive a phone call today from the Omaha VA Medical Center and my C&P is scheduled for December 17th at 1pm here in Lincoln, where I live (at the Lincoln CBCO), with a female examiner. They are mailing out my letter. Vync - Thanks for the C & P info. I feel lucky to have over a month to read up more on it, and to not have to travel for it. I have read a lot of info on C & P's here and elsewhere and will continue reading about other people's experiences. I am expecting it to be harrowing. I did submit a DBQ and Nexus from a private provider with my claim, not realizing that for Mental Health, a VA examiner is required to do one. There is so much conflicting "info" on the internet and it is frustrating as hell to try to keep all my ducks in a row. I don't do well with unforeseen developments. I am glad the DBQ prepared me for the types of things I'll be asked, though. Thanks for the help, everyone. On to the next step...
  10. Thank you, Vync. The ratings for mental disorders chart is extremely helpful. My guess is if I get anything at all, it will be a 70%. My e-benefits was updated late this afternoon. There is a new item under Needed from Others...it says <VA Medical Center> and has a due date of 12/10. I'm guessing this means I am getting a C&P finally. Fingers crossed.
  11. Thanks, everyone. My MST coordinator told me on Friday that the person reviewing my evidence has until November 19 to determine if I will be granted a C&P exam, and then will call me to schedule it. I have had my PTSD/MST and Major Depression claim in for about a year. I was told to call her on November 20th if I have not heard anything yet. She said I provided them with so much clear evidence that she would be really surprised if I wasn't granted a C&P. They are currently getting people on for C&P's here in about 7-10 days time from calling to schedule, and that's even with requesting a female examiner, which they only recently hired (they have one in Omaha). Luckily I am only an hour away from Omaha so I won't have to travel far. MST coordinator also told me that that if granted a C&P, they (VA regional office) should have the results about 5 days after. I was told "Worst case scenario, your claim will be finalized in a month at the latest." I do not want to get my hopes up that things will go that smoothly or quickly, so I'm trying to put that time frame out of my mind. I do feel grateful that every time I have contacted the MST coordinator, she's gotten back to me within five minutes. And the first time talking to her, she spoke to me for 30 minutes, making sure to answer any questions I had. I don't have a lot of faith that things will go my way on this, but as someone else commented, the fact that there was enough evidence to overturn my discharge means there's something to hope for. Same thing the MST coordinator said. Thanks for all your support and advice.
  12. I have a compensation claim in progress for PTSD due to MST, and for Major Depression. My claim is still in progress, but after 11 months waiting for news, I found out on Friday that my discharge was upgraded to Honorable for VA purposes. This is a huge step, because it means that they looked at the evidence I submitted in my FDC and determined that my reason for going AWOL was brought on by the sexual assaults. I never thought I would actually win this...I was only seventeen when I enlisted and went AWOL after less than six months after enlisting, after being raped and threatened by a group of guys I served with. I was detained and outprocessed about 5 months after going AWOL - one month after turning 18. I received an other than honorable discharge. Sixteen years later, this news feels to good to be true. I have been battling these demons for almost half of my life, and even though this isn't over, will never be over for me, and my claim is still being processes, I finally feel some hope because they acknowledged that I had a justified reason for leaving and deserve to be recognized as having served. According to my MST coordinator at the Lincoln Regional Office, I can now get free counseling and mental health care for my service related PTSD and depression through the VA. For me, this is huge. I have been hospitalized for it numerous times in the last decade and a half but have always had to quit counseling because I couldn't afford it. I know there is still a chance I will not receive disability compensation, but honestly, I thought my discharge would be the deciding factor holding me back from it. So now I have a little bit of hope. I just wanted to share with others because I know that trying to get a Character of Discharge determination can be harrowing, but it does sometimes work out!
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