ptsd 100% P&t For Ptsd And Voc Rehab

[Marinesniper]

Hello Everyone,

First of all I would like to thank EVERYONE who has taken the time to respond to my numerous questions in the past. I have had nothing but very informative and caring responses from the users on this board, and your comments have always helped me work through whatever issue it is I was dealing with at the time. Having said that I have a new question that I would like to present to the Hadit community. I am currently rated as 100% P&T for Major Depressive Disorder w/Anxiety Attacks AND PTSD, as well as SMC for other disabilities totaling approximately 60% (Sleep Apnea @ 50%, Tinnitus @ 10%, other disabilities at approx 10%). I was initially granted an award of 10% back in 1999 when I initially separated from the USMC, and I was attending Nursing School through the Vocational Rehabilitation program from around 2002-2004 when I had to drop out due to medical reasons. Shortly thereafter (approx 2005) my rating was increased to 100% P&T for PTSD and SMC was added for the additional 50%+. I did not return to my Nursing School due to the fact that I could not continue my clinical rotations while on narcotic pain meds that I am still taking today due to degenerative disc disease in my spine. I would like to add that the increase in my disability in 2005 was back dated to 1999, as it was found that these conditions existed during my time in service. I spoke with my VA Therapist about a year ago who stated that although I would never be able to work full-time ever again due to the severity of my PTSD, they did believe that I would at some point be able to pursue part-time employment at some point in the future. After much prayer and personal introspection I have realized that I believe I could pursue a career as a Patisserie/Bakery Chef decorating cakes out of my home on a part-time basis. Working out of my own home would allow me to pursue some type of gainful employment while working in an environment that would allow me to avoid the stressors and situations that aggravate/cause my PTSD and anxiety attacks. While it would be impossible to explain the nature of my disabilities, and how they keep me from being able to pursue gainful employment suffice it to say that I am unable to manage interpersonal and professional relationships with people in a working environment, and being around crowds causes severe panic attacks/feelings of being suffocated and my life being in danger. The ONLY way I can work would be in a situation where there are NOT a lot of people and I am NOT under direct supervision from an individual, AND I have a place that I can retreat to when things begin to get crazy. This is why working from home is such an ideal situation. Believe it or not, my Vocational Rehabilitation counselor was actually open to the idea of pursuing my education for the purpose of opening my own home based cake decorating business given the uniqueness of my disabilities, providing I could get signed off by my VA doctors stating that they feel I could handle the stressors of such a situation. OK...HERE IS MY QUESTION..Am I putting my 100% P&T at risk by applying for Voc Rehab? Can they take away my rating just for applying for Voc Rehab? Can I work part-time from my house and still maintain my 100% P&T rating? What are your recommendations regarding this whole situation? Once again, I thank you for your time and I realize that there are endless possibilities and answers to this question. Please answer the question to the best of your ability, and feel free to email me or ask me here should you require any further information.

Sincerely Yours,

Jeff Crockett

[Pete53]

You should look into the supplemental insurance that Larry J says is a big help and fairly inexpensive. You have to join an organization and Larry says the premiums are modest and take care of most of the copays.

http://www.amra1973.org/benefits.asp

This could save you some big bucks and read it very carefully cause Larry says we all qualify if we are have ChampVA

[Marinesniper]

Hello Everyone,

I just thought those of you who were following my case would like to receive a little update as to what I have found out. In light of all the information I have been receiving from various sources over the past few days I decided to go straight to the horses mouth and contacted a representative at 1-800-827-1000 (VA HOT-LINE) and spoke with a representative in the Compensation & Pension department.

I spoke with Harmony, who examined my service records and informed me that she could see nothing to indicate that there would be any negative repercussions from me applying for or attending Vocational Rehabilitation. According to her, the only way that I could have my benefits reduced/revoked would be if a doctor put in my medical records that he felt my medical condition had improved, and he felt that I needed to have my condition reviewed for re-evaluation. She further stated that the only way a doctor would enter something in my records would be if a date had been set for my condition to be re-evaluated, which there was no date currently set for a re-evaluation. She stated to me that in her opinion, and she stated that she has seen literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of veterans take advantage of this program and attend Vocational Rehabilitation under circumstances similar to mine, that she feels I have no reason to worry about my benefits being re-evaluated or lowered for any reason based simply on my attending vocational rehabilitation. In other words, attending vocational rehabilitation alone is not grounds for anyone to bring actions against me to try to re-evaluate my disability ratings. She also stated that as long as my Vocational Rehabilitation counselor felt that I was ready and able to attend the program that there should be no reason that I should not be able to attend, and that there should be no reason that my disability ratings should be negatively impacted because of that either.

Having Checked in to all that, I feel pretty comfortable now proceeding with my application for Vocational Rehabilitation. I spoke with my counselor today, who encouraged me to apply and told me that he felt very strongly that I had a good chance of being accepted and that he would like to have me attend courses this fall for one semester on a trial basis to see how I do. He said the the ultimate goal is NOT employment for me, but to improve my quality of life by training me in an area that would allow me to be able to do something that is as a hobby that is therapeutic and would allow me to be productive and even earn a little income on a part-time basis. He said it is his belief that this goal does NOT violate my P&T disability status and therefore should not put my disability rating in danger. My counselor, although very cautious, seems very optimistic that I could benefit from this program. He tells me that as long as my doctors agree that I am ready that he is willing to give me the opportunity to attend the program!

Now..having said all this..Can any of you think of anything that could be a hidden zinger here? Are there any hidden dangers I'm not thinking of or any areas I haven't covered here? I want to thank everyone again for all your responses, and I want to apologize for being so defensive. There is no excuse for my being so defensive, and I will do my best not do be that way again in the future. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome, even if I don't agree with them!

I think I've typed enough at this point. If you can think of anything to add that might help me please feel free to let me know!

Sincerely,

Marinesniper

[Chu Lai69]

Hello Everyone,

I just thought those of you who were following my case would like to receive a little update as to what I have found out. In light of all the information I have been receiving from various sources over the past few days I decided to go straight to the horses mouth and contacted a representative at 1-800-827-1000 (VA HOT-LINE) and spoke with a representative in the Compensation & Pension department.

I spoke with Harmony, who examined my service records and informed me that she could see nothing to indicate that there would be any negative repercussions from me applying for or attending Vocational Rehabilitation. According to her, the only way that I could have my benefits reduced/revoked would be if a doctor put in my medical records that he felt my medical condition had improved, and he felt that I needed to have my condition reviewed for re-evaluation. She further stated that the only way a doctor would enter something in my records would be if a date had been set for my condition to be re-evaluated, which there was no date currently set for a re-evaluation. She stated to me that in her opinion, and she stated that she has seen literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of veterans take advantage of this program and attend Vocational Rehabilitation under circumstances similar to mine, that she feels I have no reason to worry about my benefits being re-evaluated or lowered for any reason based simply on my attending vocational rehabilitation. In other words, attending vocational rehabilitation alone is not grounds for anyone to bring actions against me to try to re-evaluate my disability ratings. She also stated that as long as my Vocational Rehabilitation counselor felt that I was ready and able to attend the program that there should be no reason that I should not be able to attend, and that there should be no reason that my disability ratings should be negatively impacted because of that either.

Having Checked in to all that, I feel pretty comfortable now proceeding with my application for Vocational Rehabilitation. I spoke with my counselor today, who encouraged me to apply and told me that he felt very strongly that I had a good chance of being accepted and that he would like to have me attend courses this fall for one semester on a trial basis to see how I do. He said the the ultimate goal is NOT employment for me, but to improve my quality of life by training me in an area that would allow me to be able to do something that is as a hobby that is therapeutic and would allow me to be productive and even earn a little income on a part-time basis. He said it is his belief that this goal does NOT violate my P&T disability status and therefore should not put my disability rating in danger. My counselor, although very cautious, seems very optimistic that I could benefit from this program. He tells me that as long as my doctors agree that I am ready that he is willing to give me the opportunity to attend the program!

Now..having said all this..Can any of you think of anything that could be a hidden zinger here? Are there any hidden dangers I'm not thinking of or any areas I haven't covered here? I want to thank everyone again for all your responses, and I want to apologize for being so defensive. There is no excuse for my being so defensive, and I will do my best not do be that way again in the future. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome, even if I don't agree with them!

I think I've typed enough at this point. If you can think of anything to add that might help me please feel free to let me know!

Sincerely,

Marinesniper

Marine sniper, its now totally your call. I think some very knowledgeable people have gave their opinion on the matter but it seems you still are looking for that right answer that YOU want. Its obvious that you want to try this, so I say go a head and try it. Know one here can speak for you. You have to speak up for your self. If Voc Rehab is telling you by being in their program will not hurt you SC status, I would get that in writing just to ease your mind. Relax take a deep breath go for it if that is what your heart is telling you to do. We all here ar very supportive of what you decide to do.

[Pete53]

I told you that you could do it and if the Voc Rehab says you can't work which is probably what will happen you move to ILP and get something nice from that.

Good Luck

[carlie]

VA - 101 - The 800 # can only provide very basic info and there is NO WAY

for them to "examine" our "service records".

I agree with pr and Pete53, you will most probably end up going with ILP.

jmho.

[Marinesniper]

Marine sniper, its now totally your call. I think some very knowledgeable people have gave their opinion on the matter but it seems you still are looking for that right answer that YOU want. Its obvious that you want to try this, so I say go a head and try it. Know one here can speak for you. You have to speak up for your self. If Voc Rehab is telling you by being in their program will not hurt you SC status, I would get that in writing just to ease your mind. Relax take a deep breath go for it if that is what your heart is telling you to do. We all here ar very supportive of what you decide to do.

Yep, I agree with ya totally Chu Lai...I was just letting everyone know what I decided to do.. I am now at ease with my decision, but I wanted to let everyone know what Comp & Pension, not Vocational Rehabilitation said just in case anyone else might be wondering what the VA's official stance is concerning the situation. I already apologized profusely for my earlier outburst, and I think I have made it a point to abundantly thank everyone here for taking time out of their day to answer my questions and share their experiences with me..By the way..I wasn't looking for the answer the "I" wanted..what's with that response? I took the information that everyone gave me, checked up on it, processed it and made my decision...isn't that what an informed person is supposed to do? Since when is acting on information looking for the right answer that I want? Not sure what I did to ruffle your feathers, but lighten up, Francis ok? lol...Anyways...whatever happens now is my doing or undoing..and I am at peace with that decision and will deal with whatever happens..