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

PTSD Non-Combat Claim

Rate this question


Daniel_Red

Question

Hello,

I appreciate all the valuable information in here and would like to share my journey hoping for some advice along the way. I am looking for information that would be useful for a claim I am submitting for a non combat stressor for PTSD. I was active duty in the Marine Corps from 2002-2006, my first duty station after boot camp and infantry training was at the Marine Barracks in Washington, DC. In 2004 myself and a few others were trained to retrieve the transfer cases of fallen service members from Dover, DE. While removing the transfer cases we would place them in trucks and after the last service member was removed we would escort the truck to the mortuary on base to remove bag from transfer case. From 2004-2005 I made countless trips to Dover and had seen my share of bodies inside the mortuary that stick with me to this day. We were never awarded any type of after action de-brief or outlet to speak of what we were doing. It was just like any other situation were we were told to show zero emotion which was considered "good bearing". Those images and the experience stick with me to this day. I self medicated for the longest time, had reoccurring nightmares of images, had terrible sleep, isolated myself from family and friends and had work suffer. A close family member sent me an article stating that from 2004-2009 parts of service members were not properly matched up with the body and sent to a landfill in Virginia. This pushed me over emotionally because the whole point of us being in Dover was to do a dignified transfer and send the body home with honor to the family. I finally sought out medical treatment in 2016 and was diagnosed with PTSD, depression and anxiety from a private psychiatrist and I am in counseling through the VA with a Mental Health professional psychologist.

Being that this is a non-combat stressor, I have written my stressor statement that goes into great detail and have 2 buddy statements from fellow Marines I was with. I do not have any orders or mortuary affairs MOS putting me at Dover because there were none to give. We received word for our Dover detail in morning formation. My question is-will these buddy statements suffice when submitting my claim? 

I have also been diagnosed with central and mixed sleep apnea and would like to know if I can file a claim secondary to the PTSD.

I have DBQ's for both PTSD and Sleep apnea filled out by medical doctors.

Any advice from you is greatly appreciated! Thank you for taking time to read.

Daniel_Red

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Answers 5
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters For This Question

5 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

Non combat PTSD is possible, I suffered a severe medical injury and have been awarded PTSD for the injury.  I was diagnosed for multiple psychological profiles before PTSD but I now am at 70% for PTSD.  I believe buddy statements that place you at the Dover site will help in your claim.  Make sure they reference these statements in your C&P.  You have DBQ's for PTSD but do they reference a nexus between your condition and being at Dover?  The VA is very detailed on what a nexus is and how it is determined.  The DBQ should also state that is at least as likely that your PTSD is a result of your Dover experience. 

Good Luck on your claim.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Hi Daniel,

I too was stationed at MBW from 2003-2005 and was on the Dignified Transfer Team.  I am looking for more insight for a buddy letter and what types of things were included.  VA states I have PTSD but it is not service connected.  I am trying to get a letter or two for an appeal but I just don't know where to start as most of the members of the team aren't active on social media and they have gotten out or retired so it is hard for me to reach them that way.  Any info you can provide will be great. 

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I read about a case on https://asknod.org/ that is very similar to yours, but probably much older. I can't find it right now but you might look out there and see if you can locate it. If you can't you probably can contact asknod and he might remember it off the top of his head.  

We are all wired differently, but I don't think I could deal with much of that duty.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • HadIt.com Elder

you should be able to file secondary to PTSD Medications related to your now VA Diagnose Sleep Apnea. I assume. you use a C-PAP Machine prescribe by the VA Correct? 

you will need a qualified Dr to state this for you,'' it is likely has not this veterans sleep Apnea Is Related to some of the PTSD Meds he is taking ;; ect,,,ect,,,,,It is medically proven that (name the meds)  this veteran is on is related to OSA 

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