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Pamela

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There are so many other posts on here I haven't had a chance to get into all of them and personally I don't know if I have the energy. I've been going through a lot the past several months. And knowing what I have to look forward to stresses me out even more. Plus I have short/long term memory problems so I forget some things. Well, I filed my original claim 9/13/07 and really didn't look over it much. I just knew I was 50% connected for 8 of the 14 issues I reported. What I was looking into was either reopening the claims or increasing my claim. While in the service I was seen a number of times between Oct 2001 up until the time I discharged. I was young and afraid to tell the psychiatrists everything I was going through. For fear of being labeled or discharged and it being in my record forever, you name it. I had my lapses of ups and downs. I would only go when I was in dire stress and depressed. Of course no one goes when they feel they are doing OK. During the up times I was being risky, spending $ here and there before paying my bills, typical of people with Bipolar. But I never mentioned any of this to them and while in I did have suicidal thoughts but was always sure to say "no" when they asked the question. My son's father was even witness to one of my suicide attempts. So I was only diagnosed

with chronic adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features (claimed as depression, sleep disorder, and PTSD) They denied the PTSD due to them believing the PTSD was secondary to traumatic experiences that occurred prior to military service, but I had a miscarriage in basic 6 days after the 9/11 incidence, experienced a house fire and car accident in the same day, found out I had a tumor in my parotid gland and needed to have surgery on both my feet. They prescribed me Elavil and Zoloft (which had no effect but being that I rarely wanted to go to them I told them they worked.) They actually made me more anxious and depressed, even after discharge my civilian psychiatrist gave me two other antidepressants which gave me the same effects. I told her a lot of what I had been through and she determined that it could be Bipolar 2 and prescribed me Lamictal and Ambien for my sleep. (The ambien stopped working recently and now I'm prescribed Trazadone for that.)The reason I am seeing the psychiatrist was because I tried to kill myself and ended up in the ICU. I was referred to a short term counseling program which is to last for two weeks I started the beginning of March and I'm still going to the class. When I went to the VA to discuss this with them my Primary Care Provider tried to turn it around and reword what I was saying and said I didn't try to commit suicide and I didn't have any PTSD. Though even in the police and ER reports they stated I admitted to suicide. I mean I had texted my mom the pin codes to my bank accounts and then turned off my phone and took about 30 of my husband's Flexirol(muscle relaxer) before he put me out (we're separated and I was going fto go back to my place) and I was found unconscious in my car. Was that not proof enough. I did put in a referral so I can talk with a VA psychiatrist about the new diagnosis of Bipolar 2 because I believe I had it while in service but it was misdiagnosed. I have also been having a lot of body pains and the motrin I;m prescribed is not taking care of it. I made an appontment but missed it. (I woke up called into work and stayed up the rest of the day at home doing nothing) I barely took care of my dog :o but he has an automatic feeder and a water bottle that holds two gallons of water. So at least he had food and water. (But now I'm kinda off track) Maybe I should tell this person and the C&P person everything so there is no confusion this time around.

Where the problem for me comes in is since I din't divulge all of the issues while in the service will any of this correlate with my time in service? And how do I go about figuring all this stuff out? I did get a release of information from both Kaiser and the VA hospitals. and will take this to the VA Regional Office nearest me. The thing is with this depression I have been having a hard time doing things. I've used up almost all my leave unnecessarily just because I didnt want to go into work and sometimes would not even call to let them know. At one point I stayed in the bed for 6 days straight, called in 4 of the 6 days and I didn't do anything. I missed my counseling classes and was a wreck. I have a FMLA paperwork filled out so that I can protect myself though because Kaiser says I am prone to relapses 1-2 times a year, insomnia, crying spells, etc, etc. I would appreciate any help in this matter. Really, this means a great deal to me because even though I'm competent in a lot of things and probably could figure this out. I've been mentally, physically, and emotionally drained.

I'm going through a divorce, my husband cheated throughout our whole marriage with a chaplain's assistant in the military and is still with her, not talking to my parents (they dont really understand or want to accept my diagnosis and from the PTSD from childhood caused by their actions), my son (yea, i know, why would i try to kill myself when i have a son; still haven't figured it out, i know it's selfish too but at the time you feel that is your only way out) I feel bad cuz I have at times said that I wish I didn't have my son (though he is the greatest thing that has happened to me) because it would be easier to kill myself. He is struggling with the divorce, isn't sleeping , is having nightmares, is getting suspended, and chewing sore into his cheeks. Plus so many other things, but I've posted enoughfor now. People always tell me I should write a book about my life. I say "no thank you" cuz it would be 2000 pages long... :rolleyes:

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Pete53- I will focus on the Bipolar then. I wasn't diagnosed through the VA as of yet but I am going to take all of the records from my civilian psychiatrist and case managers. I work with the VA and since I'm 27 and still naive about some things (I thought you can only get SS when you're older) I was told by several people that since I work with the VA I should look to outside hospitals because my coworkers can access my records. So I haven't been going to the VA much lately. How much do you think that will weigh in on any decisions?

Josephine - I have 10% for Chronic Adjustment Disorder with mixed emotions (depression, sleep disorder). So they don't have my Bipolar or Anxiety Disorder down. They denied the PTSD portion but I will just leave the PTSD out of it. So the TDIU is something I might look into later and I'll be back on here reading and posting to you guys. I will look it up now so I can figure out what it is. The govenrment and state with all their dang acronyms... :rolleyes:

Carlie- I will definitely look into getting the Bipolar into my record and connecting it with my service time. I have also been having a lot of body aches (my neck, back) not relieved by the 800mg Motrin. I had an appointment but missed it on one of the days I stayed in bed. So, I'm not sure if they can do anything for that or if I would even get an increase. My supervisor is the only one from work that knows the whole story and is working with me. I have done some researching of what I could do to protect myself and found out about the FMLA. So I had my civilian case manager (counselor) fill it out. I can take up to 12 weeks (all together or intermittent) but it's unpaid and I would have to have to put in for leave donation because I can't afford not to. (Cali is expensive, I should move back to TX) I can also get an advance in leave up to 240 hrs and all the annual/sick leave I have for the rest of the year.

John999- Do you have any recommendations about what type of lawyer I should get and how I go about getting one that isn't too expensive? I don't know if I qualify for any free services or know what the fees would be. (I recently went through a period where I cleaned out my savings on unnecessary things.) In my counseling classes they kept telling me to get a lawyer (for my divorce, that I could get one for free or get free legal advice) but I think I make too much money for that. And thanks for the advice about keeping out things prior to or after service. SO as far as the records go from my civilian counselor and psychiatrist should I take all of them because they go into detail about my suicide attempt and divorce. Or just something that states I've been diagnosed with Bipolar and my Bipolar meds ( Or Happy Pills as I like to call them ;) ) And about the appointment with the VA psychiatrist what all should I grace her with knowing?

I will take all of these tips and information into consideration and welcome any others that come in. Do you guys think it would be helpful to bring my PIF (file that includes all my reprimands during my service)? And even bring someone that could vouch for me? Or is that to the C&P exam if I do get another one? Hmm so much to go through just for some benefits. In the end I know it will be worth it (especially if it works in my favor) but I just don't want to do it over again.

Once again thank you guys. I'm about to update my signature again to reflect that the military overlooked the Bipolar 2, diagnosed me with severe depression but was only given a rating for mild depression. All due to me being on an up period when I went into the C&P exam back in 2007. Of course I'm going to seem all together, I'm not depressed and feeling hopeless about my life. Unbeknownst to them, I'm spending my money and rushing into marriage and yea, they figured me all out at that one appointment (I'm saying this sarcastically :o ). Because they don't know.

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Pam

If your job is aggravating your MH problems you may be able to file a workers compensation claim. I did that before I finally got IU from the VA. These are two separate ways to go. You can google VA lawyers in your area. Also they advertise on Military channel and in service organization mags. They get paid out of your retro payments. No money up front. Where do you live? If you live near a larger city there must be VA lawyers in the area.

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Pam

If your job is aggravating your MH problems you may be able to file a workers compensation claim. I did that before I finally got IU from the VA. These are two separate ways to go. You can google VA lawyers in your area. Also they advertise on Military channel and in service organization mags. They get paid out of your retro payments. No money up front. Where do you live? If you live near a larger city there must be VA lawyers in the area.

So I should look for a lawyer and then go to a regional office or should I skip the regional office all together and let the lawyer tell me what I should do?

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Pamela,

Do you know what Diagnostic Codes (DC's) you are currently rated under

by VA, for your SC'd disabilities ?

If not, that is something the VA 800 number can usually provide

an accurate answer on.

My question is, what DC is your "Migraine/s" rated under ?

carlie

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Pamela,

Do you know what Diagnostic Codes (DC's) you are currently rated under

by VA, for your SC'd disabilities ?

If not, that is something the VA 800 number can usually provide

an accurate answer on.

My question is, what DC is your "Migraine/s" rated under ?

carlie

The DC for my migraines is 8100.

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