* First thing I do after receiving a service medical record is number each page when I get to the end I go back and add 1 of 100 and so on.
* Second I then make a copy of my service medical records on a different color paper, yellow or buff something easy to read, but it will distinguish it from the original.
* I then put my original away and work off the copy.
* Now if you know the specific date it's fairly easy to find.
* If on the other hand you don't know specifically or you had symptoms leading up to it. Well this may take some detective work and so Watson the game is afoot.
* Let's say it's Irritable Syndrome
* I would start page by page from page 1, if the first thing I run across an entry that supports my claim for IBS, I number it #1, I Bracket it in Red, and then on a separate piece of paper I start to compile my medical evidence log. So I would write Page 10 #1 and a brief summary of the evidence, do this has you go through all the your medical records and when you are finished you will have an index and easy way to find your evidence.
Study your diagnosis symptoms look them up. Check common medications for your IBS and look for the symptoms noted in your evidence that seem to point to IBS, if your doctor prescribes meds for IBS, but doesn't call it that make those a reference also.
I have been getting the Va run around for years, I filed a PTSD claim in 2002 and was denied, went through all steps, NOD, etc, end result denial and diagnosed with other diagnoses like anxiety disorder etc. I was Diagnosed with PTSD from civilian psychiatrist, was medicated and counselled.
Had another exam in 2005 and again in 2006 and once again they danced around it and called it anxiety, etc.
Anyway on 6/29/2010
I had an exam and here was the result
Axis I: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Moderate.
Axis II: No Diagnosis
Axis III: Various listed, I am only concerned with current right now
Axis IV: Relationship issues with family and supervisor at work, extreme discomfort interacting with other individuals, and ongoing poor quality of sleep that impacts her day to day functioning.
Axis V: GAF 51
Goes on explaining that GAF was determined diagnoses of PTSD alone, her diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder alone, her diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder alone or all three in any combination. Goes on to state that he believes that all three diagnoses are the direct result of her military service in Iraq.
The entire exam is 7 pages long and he disects the other two exams through out the narrative implying through out that it should have been diagnosed as PTSD, he also stated during the exam that it should have been done a long time ago.
So my questions are:
What percentage could I possibly be looking at?
Should it be back dated to 2002 when I filed for the original claim? How will the date of the decision be determined?
Since a VA Psych finally diagnosed it in a comp and pension exam am I guarenteed a rating?
I thank you in advance for your time and help here. Great site.
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