ptsd Claims Process/regional Office

[wildcat]

I have been reading hadit.com as a "guest" for many months now. I think

the advice given out by Tbird and others has been excellent. My claim for

PTSD,Aggravtion of "bi-polar condition", heart, etc has been in Seattl just over

a year now. I k now this not bad as many vets claims have taken considerably

longer.

I called the 800 # last week and the person said my claim has been up to

"the review panel twice". I can't understand the problem / situation. I have

a letter from my LA shrink ( a VA pysch. examiner for 15 yrs. early in his

career) stating definite aggravation of bi-polar "if the board is reasonable".

I was doped up massively on Thorazine and in Vally Forge Hosp. 400 miligrams

and was a "zombie". Some call it a chemical labotomy (sp). This was back in 1967-

and yes I am a boots on ground Nam vet.

Saw my VA shrink yesterday..."mood disorders clinic" and gave him an article

about the bad effects of Thorazine. He agreed. He appears to processing me

for a "major depressive disorder" rating. Or, that is the feeling I am getting.

Is the Seattle panel awaiting a VA shrink opinion because THEY don't believe

my private sector shrink of 9 years. I worked for LA unified school in south

central for 10 years. I went "off on the job" to my supervisor and went on sick

leave for 30 days. Had to be evaluated by an independent shrink before

returning to a transfer job.

I was a sp. ed. administrator too for many years and can't believe the extremely

poor process to notifiy Vietnam vets of what is available to them during 1965 - 1971.

In Sp.Ed. legislation (1975) all school districts had to do "Search and Serve"

notices in newspapers, etc to notify people that if they had a child with problems-

contact your local school district. This was LAW! Now as a 63 year old man with

a stent in his heart, loyal citizen, I chat with a 51 yr. old shrink was in jr. hi when

I started basic traing in Fort Bliss in May 1966.

Should I relax and just wait for Seattle to make a decision. Or do I have to been

more depressed in my November session so the Portland shrink will state major

depression...and nofify Seattle

Wildcat Bien Hoa 1967 - 68

[Pete53]

Welcome to Hadit. I would not depend on a VA Shrink to report anything the VARO. Instead you might consider requesting a copy of all your progress notes and sending copies of thsoe to the VARO.

Good Luck on your claim.

[Guest Berta]

Dear Wild cat- as long as you have the nexus- that is the link to your service for PTSD and bi polar-

the medical opinion you ofered from your LA shrink should help

BUT-

stating definite aggravation of bi-polar "if the board is reasonable"-

I didnt quite get what the doc meant by that- is this a psychologist or a psychiatrist?

In an independent medical opinion the VA wants medical rationale-

a solid reason that the doc is opining as to service connected-

also it sure doesnt hurt to have the doctor state his/her credentials-

being a past VA doc will give him some credibility-odd as that sounds-

They might be fishing around to get a VA opinion to knock this down-

the 'board' has nothing to do with being reaonable-

that isnt a medical statement-

There are some Independent Medical Opinion templates here somewhere at hadit.

The opinion has to be strong enough to be as likely as not due to service or secondary service connection or better yet- more than likely-

and the doc has to state medically why they say this.

Example of what I mean- this is from one of my IMOs-not exact words but almost

the veteran's demise was more than likely due to complications of DMII due to AO incurred while the veteran was in USMC,Vietnam 1965-66.

the cerebral and cardiac involement on autopsy is consistent with

peripheral arteriol disease due to undiagnosed and untreated diabetes

per Braunwald-

something like that and this doc quoted the exact treatise.

then he mentioned the veterans MRIs, ECHO,X rays etc, and correlated his own clinic experience with same involving thousands of diabetics

as to the clinical record.

See what I mean -the doc has to opine as to some specific medical facts

to connect secondary conditions.

And then back up their statements.

Stent in your heart? Are you a diabetic?

If so have you requested DMII to be service connected due to AO?

Do you have any SC rating at all yet and what is it for?

[john999]

If "they" don't believe your private shrink of 9 years get the shrink to refer you for an independent medical opinion to connect your service with your PTSD/Depression. Be sure you have your service medical records for the new doctor to review. The IMO doctor should do a medical history and review of your medical records. Review the report before you send it to the VA. Tell the shrink what you are trying to do so he/she knows what the goal is. Most docs know how to play these games when dealing with agencies like the SSA or other government agencies.

[wildcat]

Welcome to Hadit. I would not depend on a VA Shrink to report anything the VARO. Instead you might consider requesting a copy of all your progress notes and sending copies of thsoe to the VARO.

Good Luck on your claim.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for your help. I find it amazing that the regional office

may not believe my shrink with 15 years as a psych VA examiner.

I will phone the VA/Seattle 800 #..on Friday. They may have made

a decision as to a compensation % or a denial.

Wildcat

[wildcat]

Dear Wild cat- as long as you have the nexus- that is the link to your service for PTSD and bi polar-

the medical opinion you ofered from your LA shrink should help

BUT-

stating definite aggravation of bi-polar "if the board is reasonable"-

I didnt quite get what the doc meant by that- is this a psychologist or a psychiatrist?

In an independent medical opinion the VA wants medical rationale-

a solid reason that the doc is opining as to service connected-

also it sure doesnt hurt to have the doctor state his/her credentials-

being a past VA doc will give him some credibility-odd as that sounds-

They might be fishing around to get a VA opinion to knock this down-

the 'board' has nothing to do with being reaonable-

that isnt a medical statement-

There are some Independent Medical Opinion templates here somewhere at hadit.

The opinion has to be strong enough to be as likely as not due to service or secondary service connection or better yet- more than likely-

and the doc has to state medically why they say this.

Example of what I mean- this is from one of my IMOs-not exact words but almost

the veteran's demise was more than likely due to complications of DMII due to AO incurred while the veteran was in USMC,Vietnam 1965-66.

the cerebral and cardiac involement on autopsy is consistent with

peripheral arteriol disease due to undiagnosed and untreated diabetes

per Braunwald-

something like that and this doc quoted the exact treatise.

then he mentioned the veterans MRIs, ECHO,X rays  etc, and correlated his own clinic experience with same involving thousands of diabetics

as to the clinical record.

See what I mean -the doc has to opine as to some specific medical facts

to connect secondary conditions.

And then back up their statements.

Stent in your heart? Are you a diabetic?

If so have you requested DMII to be service connected due to AO?

Do you have any SC rating at all yet and what is it for?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[wildcat]

I have been reading hadit.com as a "guest" for many months now. I think

the advice given out by Tbird and others has been excellent. My claim for

PTSD,Aggravtion of "bi-polar condition", heart, etc has been in Seattl just over

a year now. I k now this not bad as many vets claims have taken considerably

longer.

I called the 800 # last week and the person said my claim has been up to

"the review panel twice". I can't understand the problem / situation. I have

a letter from my LA shrink ( a VA pysch. examiner for 15 yrs. early in his

career) stating definite aggravation of bi-polar "if the board is reasonable".

I was doped up massively on Thorazine and in Vally Forge Hosp. 400 miligrams

and was a "zombie". Some call it a chemical labotomy (sp). This was back in 1967-

and yes I am a boots on ground Nam vet.

Saw my VA shrink yesterday..."mood disorders clinic" and gave him an article

about the bad effects of Thorazine. He agreed. He appears to processing me

for a "major depressive disorder" rating. Or, that is the feeling I am getting.

Is the Seattle panel awaiting a VA shrink opinion because THEY don't believe

my private sector shrink of 9 years. I worked for LA unified school in south

central for 10 years. I went "off on the job" to my supervisor and went on sick

leave for 30 days. Had to be evaluated by an independent shrink before

returning to a transfer job.

I was a sp. ed. administrator too for many years and can't believe the extremely

poor process to notifiy Vietnam vets of what is available to them during 1965 - 1971.

In Sp.Ed. legislation (1975) all school districts had to do "Search and Serve"

notices in newspapers, etc to notify people that if they had a child with problems-

contact your local school district. This was LAW!  Now as a 63 year old man with

a stent in his heart, loyal citizen, I chat with a 51 yr. old shrink was in jr. hi when

I started basic traing in Fort Bliss in May 1966.

Should I relax and just wait for Seattle to make a decision. Or do I have to been

more depressed in my November session so the Portland shrink will state major

depression...and nofify Seattle

Wildcat      Bien Hoa      1967 - 68

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Berta,

I did you reply to your information earlier today. But I don't see it posted on

hadit.com? Did you get it ?

Wildcat