Jump to content
VA Disability Community via Hadit.com

VA Disability Claims Articles

Ask Your VA Claims Question | Current Forum Posts Search | Rules | View All Forums
VA Disability Articles | Chats and Other Events | Donate | Blogs | New Users

  • hohomepage-banner-2024-2.png

  • 27-year-anniversary-leaderboard.png

    advice-disclaimer.jpg

  • donate-be-a-hero.png

  • 0

IU and SSDI Journey

Rate this question


Corpsman8404

Question

I saw in Myhealthevet where my PCP added the info I requested. I am hoping this is good to go in regards to IU? (as well as treatment notes, of course):

 



Patient is a 47 year old male here for follow up his PTSD, OSA and migraine headaches -reviewed chart and interviewed patient, he is unable to maintain gainful employment due to his PTSD. He avoids crowds, is easily distracted in working environment and difficulty with conflict and stress. Has been unable to hold down jobs. Currently on temporary leave in an effort to get needed treatment initiated. Wrote letter stating that he continues to be unable to work. His PTSD is directly related to his time in the service as a medic. - migraine/headaches worse, excerbated by stress, PTSD symptoms and poor sleep associated with obstructive sleep apnea. MRI brain pending for later this week to further evaluate. -

Has been seen by outside pulmonary sleep specialist for his obstructive sleep apnea. Notes that OSA is known to exacerbate PTSD symptoms

ACTIVE PROBLEM
Depression
Headache
Anxiety
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Tear of meniscus of knee
retinal detachment
Obstructive sleep apnea of adult 

PTSD: patient involved in intensive treatment plan, followed by pharmacy for medication adjustment, has been seen by a counselor and is in group therapy - he is unable to maintain gainful employment due to his service related PTSD - currently on short term disability and leave from work, will readdress at next visit in March but it is unlikely that he will capable of returning to work environment. 






My LCSW (PTSD counselor) has stated she is going to put something in notes as well, along these lines?  
Any thoughts on how this looks for me for IU?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Recommended Posts

  • 0

Your title is IU and SSDI Journey, so my question is, are you getting SSDI and for what condition? 

25 minutes ago, Corpsman8404 said:

PTSD: patient involved in intensive treatment plan, followed by pharmacy for medication adjustment, has been seen by a counselor and is in group therapy - he is unable to maintain gainful employment due to his service related PTSD - currently on short term disability and leave from work, will readdress at next visit in March but it is unlikely that he will capable of returning to work environment. 

This statement on the surface sounds good but the underlined part leaves VA wiggle room to say that you are currently still working and on leave and will go back to work in March.  This is only my opinion and it would really help if you were on SSDI. Have you filed a claim for sleep apnea and headaches?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Thanks Pete.

 

I am definitely going for SSDI first.  About to apply for it, but I wanted that note from the Dr first.  So will be doing SSDI, then if I get it, I will put in for IU.

 

I have an open "intent to file" for the headaches (just had MRI to rule out things) and Sleep Apnea (just had Pulmonary sleep Dr state more than likely to PTSD), PTSD increase, et cetera.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

*UPDATE on Journey*

 

I went to appt today at Voc Rehab at the VA.  Went through "class" for about an hour, then interviewed with Counselor.  Brought some records, medication(s) list, Mental Residual Functional Capacity Assessment from PCP that states, "unable to maintain gainful..." et cetera.

Counselor agreed that the program was not a fit for me, and said she was going to send me a letter stating basically that she was denying Voc Rehab and sees me unable to work. I have just applied for SSDI and when I get that letter from her, I'll be adding it to my SSDI package.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Update, and question.

 

Good evening.  I received the denial letter from Voc Rehab that I will supply to my SSDI case that just started, and it says, "We are writing to inform you of the following decision that affects your Dept of Veteran's Affairs (VA) benefits: Discontinuance of your Chapter 31 case."

Yes, I was wanting this outcome (denial) to show to SSDI. Can anyone who has gotten this letter put what thier's says for denial?

It goes on to say:

Why did we make this decision:
The decision was made based on the following reason(s): You informed that you are unable to work at this time due to the severity of your service connected disabilities, your pursuit of unemployability rating from the Dept of Veteran's Affairs, and your decline to be considered for Independent Living services.
(is this correct??? Shouldn't THEY be saying something about THEIR findings?  It seems that all of the above is what *I* stated/am doing. 



Then the letter says:

What evidence did we use to make this decision? 

Rehab Needs Inventory, Physician Information, Intake Discussion/Meeting, and Your Statement in Support of Claim (VA Form 21-4138 which they gave me to sign), which reads: "At this time I decline consideration for Independent Living services and request to discontinue my application for Chapter 31. I reserve the right to reapply in the future for possible services."  (It just seems that again that it's from my statements etc.  I guess I am expecting THEM to flat out say YOU CAN'T WORK, instead of looking like I put in for IU...signed a thing saying I don't want ILP...and "*I* informed them that I'm unable to work......" Yes, I see the Physicial information and such, but this letter, to me, is sooooooooooooo vague. Is this good enough to send to SSDI? Am I just being ridiculous and need to drop and give everyone 20?) image

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

  when I got my letter from VR it had what their finding

was and not what I say or think it should be. It also had

I couldn't be retrain because of education and age something to

that nature. Your PCP letter looks good to me.

At this time I decline consideration for Independent Living services

This was a good program for vets that cant work. I have gotten

a lot of equipment out this program but I have heard it has change

they don't buy things like they  once was. I gotten a bow flex,

treadmill, riding mower, massage chair, backup camera, anything that will

make your life better.  Good luck RU

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use