ptsd My Ptsd C& P Is Coming Up And I Need To Know What Medical Records I Need To Take And Any Other Preparation I Need To Do!

[mrs rockman (widow of vet)]

I have my PTSD C& P exam coming up on March 8th. I have been going to my local VA CBOC since 09/10/10 with the mental health specialist. She has already diagnosed me with PTSD. I have asked her a copy of her records to take with me to the exam and was told that they will look that up then. I am afraid that they may not want to take the time to look all of it up. When I go to the VA on Wednesday of this week, I am going to print out all of my progress notes to date. Then on the 4th, when I am there also, I will print out any other visits that I have until then. Will this help if I take these in for them to see? Also my wife wrote a 21-4138 statement on how it is living with a spouse with PTSD and how I have only gotten worse. Should I take this also? When I filed my claim, her form was sent in also.

My VA doc keeps discussing how maybe where I am working may not be good for me. I go tomorrow for my weekly therapy session. I am on #11 of 12. She siad first that after the 12 weeks-you wait a month and then come back. Well last week-she said that sometimes after your initial 12 weeks, you have to go longer. I surely do hope so.

I also heard that there was some type of new rule that you needed to be diagnosed in house before you had your exam for the PTSD. Anyone heard of this? I will just be glad when it is over and done with. You see horrow stories where some have 3 hours exams and otheres 30 minutes. Who knows! As far as my answers- just tell it how it is and let it take it course!

Any suggestions on what I need to do beforehand.

Rockman

[Berta]

This is the fact sheet from VA on the new rules:

Yes the new rules say only a PTSD diagnosis from a VA MH professional is acceptable.

That has been challenged by 4 veterans groups/orgs.It is an insult to our right to due process.

Full discussion and link to my VAWatchdogToday article on the new PTSD rules is ere:

The AMIE worksheet for the PTSD C & P is here under a search. Dont worry about this exam too much.

If your claim falls into the new rule criteria the Q and A will help you.

[mrs rockman (widow of vet)]

This is the fact sheet from VA on the new rules:

Yes the new rules say only a PTSD diagnosis from a VA MH professional is acceptable.

That has been challenged by 4 veterans groups/orgs.It is an insult to our right to due process.

Full discussion and link to my VAWatchdogToday article on the new PTSD rules is ere:

The AMIE worksheet for the PTSD C & P is here under a search. Dont worry about this exam too much.

If your claim falls into the new rule criteria the Q and A will help you.

Thank you. This is why when I was told that I may need another diagnosis before the C& P exan, I was a bit confused. The only doc I have been to for the PTSD is the VA and this is the one that dx'd me. Maybe they were thinking that I had been to an outside doctor for a diagnosis and not the VA. I do have the Vietnam stressors, so that is covered.

Should I go on and take any progress notes with me or not? When I went in for my AO IHD C&P, I did not take any records. They had them all right there. In fact, all of the cardiology records were from my private cardiologist and not VA. They had no problem pulling up the records and had already read them beforehand. Maybe one thing that is good is all of my records are from Memphis and that is where I have my C& Ps done. They have been there since the 70's and maybe that makes things easier. Just a thought. I think that making sure I have everything I need beforehand is the main thing that I need to do. Sure, I do dread the exam, but that is okay and probably very common.

Rockman