ptsd My First Visit To The Va

[GlobalHawk]

Hello everyone,

I new here and I wanted to wait for my first meeting with my psychiatrist before I post. I just got back and I have the records with her notes on it. I am no expert with this so I need some help with this. I'm an OEF/OIF veteran who recently got out the Air Force due to general discharge. On the DD214 is says Misconduct; Minor Infractures. I first when to the VA for poor sleep and nightmares. My AFSC is Satellite Communication but I volunteered to go to Iraq as security forces gaurding Third Country Nationals (TCN)s. As a satellite communication technician we provide the drone pilot communication links to the aircaft to run daily mission and both theatres of war. Both experiences were highly stressful and demanding. Im interested in finding out if I would get any compensation for my symptoms. Im also unemployed and experiencing finacial hardships.

Assessment:

Axis I : PTSD, THC/Alcohol abuse

Axis II : no dx

Axis III : knee injury

Axis IV : Limited socoal support, unemployment, interpersonal

Axis V : 45

The regional office had mailed me a letter stating that they had received my claim, what is the next step?

[Guest terrysturgis]

Welcome aboard. As far as percentage of compensation and the time frame, take time to search other post that are about the same disabilities you are claiming to see what others have achieved.

The advantage you have over some of us old farts is that you have your medical evidence in hand as opposed to when I started my claim process, no medical records were availiable.

As you study this forum you will get the help you need to assist your journey through the VA maize.

Evidence wins claims. Good luck. Terry

[GlobalHawk]

This peice of evidence I received from the VA psychiatrist records. Would I need to mail this to my Regional Office? Or would find it them selves? While in the service I had no idea what PTSD was so I have no record of me me having this prior to my VA visit. Im on meds right now for depression and lack of sleep. Would that help me with my claim? What are the usual things the rater or whoever looks for?

[LarryJ]

You have an "other-than-honorable" discharge. Your FIRST priority is to get that changed.

Then I'd file a 21-526EZ claiming the already VA diagnosed PTSD.

You do not say what the "knee injury" is about, whether it was a service-connected injury or not? If so, I'd get my SMRs (Service Medical Records) indicating the injury and file another 21-526EZ for the knee injury.

[GlobalHawk]

My discharge is General under Honorable. I have all veteran benefits excluding GI Bill. My knee was injured in basic and reinjured in Iraq. I had got xrays on while in Iraq but I dont know if the filed them.

[stillhere]

My discharge is General under Honorable. I have all veteran benefits excluding GI Bill. My knee was injured in basic and reinjured in Iraq. I had got xrays on while in Iraq but I dont know if the filed them.

A General discharge should not hold you back for benefits. This is going to take a while to do with the backlogs of claims at the VA. You may have to wait a few months before you hear anything on this.

I would suggest you make other arrangements to hold you over until then.

Good Luck to you and welcome to hadit!

[Testvet]

financial hardships are not a basis for them to speed up your claims process I know where many people think by claiming it the VA "should" move quicker of your claim but the bottom line is they do it when they get around to it, the only thing that will help your claim is the diagnosis of PTSD by a VA mental health provider, a stressor that is verfiable and current treatment notes as you have heard by now the VA currently has one million claims back logged and they still do most of their work with paper files just like they did in Vietnam, Korea and WW2 they claim they are moving to a digital records system which will stream line the process

you need to make some type of arrangements for a place to live and eat while this process goes thru it's motions, this is not something that will be done in a matter of days or maybe even months it could take a year or more, my PTSD part of my claim took from Dec 2003 until May 2006 before they finally adjudicated it properly and granted my 100% P&T just on the PTSD issue then the cardiac issues took until Feb 2009 when I got my BVA hearing and April 2009 when the Judge granted my CAD and hypertension as secondary to my SC PTSD and it was June before the VARO sent the award letter and rated the CAD and the deposit was made June 4 2009 7 years from start to finish there is nothing fast about the comp claims process

just do not miss any of their deadlines for you to file appeals etc