ptsd Review/increase Of Rating Decision

[Pamela]

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...

[carlie]

The DC for my migraines is 8100.

Pamela,

Do you have any medical evidence of an increase in the severity

and/or frequency of your headaches, since the rating decision

that granted DC 8100 - Migraines at 10 percent ?

carlie

[Pamela]

Pamela,

Do you have any medical evidence of an increase in the severity

and/or frequency of your headaches, since the rating decision

that granted DC 8100 - Migraines at 10 percent ?

carlie

They seem to come and go. The tend to come around more with stress and insomnia. Recently they have been popping up because I can't sleep and I'm stressing. Normally Midrin would help but that no longer works. And for sleep I was taking Ambien which stopped working so I was changed to Trazadone. I know that it was documented I was having migraines again but I'm not sure if they mentioned anything about the severity or frequency of my migraines/headaches. I've been going to my private doctor because I seem to get more results from them. But being that they are civilian there may be that barrier with the VA terminology and understanding what would need to be put into my record. It seems that when I go to the VA though and tell them what is wrong, they reword everything in the notes and turn it against my favor. DO you think I can get an increase if there is proper documentation?

[carlie]

Pamela,

The last time I had a C&P for an increase in Migraines

I took my calendar with me that I had kept a headache

journal for about six months prior to the C&P.

The C&P examiner made a copy of the six pages and submitted

the copies with their C&P results.

It was helpful for me, so I say it's worth a try to at least

attempt to journal them if you are able.

jmho,

carlie

[Pamela]

Pamela,

The last time I had a C&P for an increase in Migraines

I took my calendar with me that I had kept a headache

journal for about six months prior to the C&P.

The C&P examiner made a copy of the six pages and submitted

the copies with their C&P results.

It was helpful for me, so I say it's worth a try to at least

attempt to journal them if you are able.

jmho,

carlie

It will probably be helpful then that I have been keeping a mood chart of the past several months. It includes my mood whether depressed or elevated with a scale rating ranging from mild to severe, if I had any anxiety or irritability, how many hours of sleep I got, and what meds I was taking at the time. I did include in a journal/notes sections the days I had migraines. Hmm, never thought to show it to the VA, but was showing it to my private doctor. Thanks for the info. This site really is a Godsend. Thanks again...