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To Matthew Hill, I had my C&P with Dr. Davis in Gainesville. It was an antiseptic experience. He was very disconnected, not empathetic at all. But perhaps that's just the way they have to conduct themselves. Honestly I became worried that they might not only not grant my TDIU but reduce my current 70% rating. Not feeling very hopeful at this point.

I have an independent IMO from a psychologist, in addition my record with the VA will reflect my medication and symptoms. I was working until I went on Family Medical Leave due to my PTSD and now I am unemployed. I tried Voc Rehab but was unable to finish due to my PTSD. I am hoping that these factors will outweigh any biased/difficult C&P exam in Gainesville. My fingers are crossed as I cannot work and deserve TDIU. If I do not receive the result I deserve I will of course appeal the decision. Thank you for you good advice. John

Any update on your TDIU C&P? Have you received a decision? I wish you the best. I am going for my TDIU C&P on July 23rd in Gainesville, Florida. I am rated 70% PTSD and not working. I am very, very nervous about this exam. I have had two C&P's for PTSD, one the guy was so detached I felt completely alone and discarded, the other the woman was empathetic. I will arrive with my armor on.

Thanks so much for the great information. John

All I have done with Voc Rehab is send them a heartfelt letter explaining that I have been and am unable to continue with the program due to my psychological condition, namely my PTSD. It was very difficult to admit failure but I am simply unable to succeed. Voc Rehab has not recommended an independent living program. I don't know what they will put in my file and of course that is out of my control. I could only tell them what my efforts were, that I tried as much as I could and that for me that wasn't enough.

I am rated 70% PTSD and 10% hearing loss. I was on Family Medical Leave from my work due to my PTSD and signed up for Voc Rehab to possibly get a job where i didn't have to be with people. I had to quit Voc Rehab because I just can't pay attention enough to study. I have no short term memory and found myself unable to sleep due to the stress of failure in my Voc Rehab Classes. So now I have filed for TDIU. I am not working, no Voc Rehab. I am worried about yet another round of psychiatric exams. I find the entire process very stressful as I am sure we all do. I am hopeful that my failure with Voc Rehab will have a silver lining in as much as it will show that I cannot be retrained, and cannot work. Best to all.

Update: In 2013 my PTSD rating was increased to 70%. I have been on Family Medical Leave for my PTSD the last 4 months and finally quit my job. I have just filed for TDIU at the urging of my VSO. I hope it all goes through.

Congratulations! Well deserved. Best Wishes

I am SC 50% for PTSD and am going to another C&P for a rating increase. I am diagnosed bipolar. Should I bring this up in the C&P or just answer the questions asked? I found the first C&P, two years ago, very stressful. Reliving, emotional and telling someone who seemed entirely clinical. I am sure he is a nice person but the process was less than empathetic. Afterwards I sat on the sidewalk outside the phychologist office just watching people go about their normal life while I felt completely abnormal. I want to be forthcoming with this C&P but I also want to protect myself. I'm just getting this off my chest. If anyone has feedback about disclosing my bipolar I would appreciate it. Thanks

I just saw a psychologist at work and told him about my history and symptoms. He said I should see a neuropsychologist for testing. I didn't really understand what you meant by saying I should see that specialist but now I get it. I will look at my insurance and see if I can find someone. The more backround information I have I believe the better for my case. Thanks a lot.

Thanks so much that's good advice about getting past medical information. I hadn't considered getting records which show my fatigue, which is my major complaint. Great Help!

Thanks for the information. i can only wait and hope for the best. My IME was pretty thorough he even tied my sleep apnea to my TBI. I also appealed my PTSD rating which is currently at 50%. We will see.

I have an IME from a neurologist and he said the following. He has classic TBI signs and symptoms (as per the VA guide for TBI examination) of headaches, dizziness, weakness, sleep disturbance, fatigue, balance issues short term memory problems, bladder problems, hypersensitivity to sound (as per his attached lay statement and clinical exam) and he was exposed to blast injuries in service with likely TBI (traumatic brain injury) as per my clinical interview and my review of his brain MRI report which describes findings consistent in my medical opinion with old trauma (“…T-2 hyperintensity…right inferior frontal lobe…frontal operculum….may represent prior trauma… Dr. Levy…”.) I understand that Dr. Levy used the word may but an injury in the operculum is a classic location for trauma to be manifest as the brain hits the inner regions of the skull in this area during trauma and causes encephalomalacia which is visualized as increased T-2 signal. This patient has increased T-2 signal in his operculum and therefore it is my opinion that this is most likely due to his service time trauma as this is a classic location for post trauma brain injury. It's mostly greek to me but he does correlate the brain trauma to the event. So I'm hoping for the best. I'm currently 50% PTSD and 10% Tinnitus so I hope this adds to my compenstaion and I hope they don't lump the TBI issues into the PTSD.

Yes I have dizziness, vertigo and blank moments. Those blank moments are a bit weird, it's like a stop action movie or series of still photos with space in between. I did see a neurologist and he said I had visible brain trauma in the MRI. I'm just hoping the VA will accept that this because it happened so long ago. I wish I had gone to the VA earlier but I didn't so here we are. Thanks for the info. John

Thank you for responding to my posting. No record of explosion in my service records. In fact no treatment at that time. Yes this is one of the PTSD stressors listed in my PTSD claim. I have a buddy letter stating the explosion occured and we survived. My MRI report is clear that a trauma occured. Putting two and two together and realizing that many of my problems are likely related to this event, has been a great releif. I read the VA's list of common problems related to TBI and it is really great to finally understand what has been happening to me. In 1969 I went to a VA hospital for bladder problems which have never abated. I can't empty my bladder and that is one of the effects of brain trauma. Another is sleep apnea. I have always had this. I also have extreme fatigue. All these things I believe and so does my neurologist, are related to brain trauma. I'm still waiting to hear from the VA. I filed in October and so far I've just received the letters saying they are working on my claim. I will take your advice and respond to the VA as soon as they require. Best Wishes