ptsd Ptsd Without Medication

[bigoc]

2 questions

1. If I meet the 50% rating criteria, is it reasonable to expect this rating without being place on any type of medication relating to the condition? I tried zoloft a few years ago and did not like the results. I have not been on any medication for this condition for a few years. I have found better results through counseling only without medication.

Can the VA use my TBI finding that I am SC for to explain away PTSD? I am looking at the memory part of the rating criteria and it looks like that is a significant portion of the 50% rating.

My in service combat stressor is pretty solid so I do not have to much concern with that area of the claim. This process happens at the same time (SC finding and rating) so I want to be prepared and able to defend it with a solid initial claim and avoid as much of the back and forth NOD as possible. I have had problems in the past with private doc's writting a finding and having the VA explain away the claim somehow. Then I have to jump through hoops to finally prove my case. I know this is sometime the reality but I would like to be prepared. If anyone has experienced the VA using the TBI finding(memory issues) for VA benefit to deny a PTSD claim please fill me in.

[carlie]

Thank you for the advise. As for the VA find out that I am firefighter, I have put that information in my other claims. I do not lie about any portion of my claims, not a single part. I was referring to removing my career from this post as I have now seen where it has gone.

I wasn't/ didn't imply you were being untruthful - sorry if you took it that way.

I can see the "anti-100% combined schedular and still working" crowd is still in full force here.

Not at all.

I think this post shows the delusion that some in our society have about the world we live in and the people around us. There are people in all walks of life, including public employees with PTSD that are still able to preform their jobs with out endangering themselves or the citizens they serve. There are "loose canons" in public service that have never seen anything even close to combat and do not have metal conditions and still they act out with violence just because they had a bad day and could not control themselves. Point is, PTSD effects every one differently and you can not place people into nice, neat little boxes of what they can and can not do in life.

I fully understand this as I too have PTSD - what you are continuing to take as an emotional slam against you and continuing to not understand and accept,

is that your post and questions have nothing to do with people in the public.

It has to do with if there are opinions about DOES YOUR VA CLAIM FOR PTSD MEET THE CRITERIA FOR A 50 PERCENT RATING.

At least try to understand the damned criteria you have to meet for VA Claims adjudication !

The Rating criteria's - especially when you start getting to 50/70 or 100 percent for mental health are based on OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT !

If your PTSD does not reduce your OCCUPATIONAL RELIABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY, supported by the evidence of record -

then NO you do not meet the 50 % criteria -

and medication is not a factor at this level, especially if you do not take any.

If you don't take the meds then you don't have additional factors of can't operate machinery due to side effects of drugs to

treat a SC'd condition, no gerd problems due to any drugs for treatment because you do not take them, etc...

I'm going to quit trying to hold you hand and guide you any more on this.

For my own health I need to let this one go because I have PTSD too and other disability's AND when someone wants to not listen to opinions

and put a bunch of emotional feel good - feel misunderstood stuff into VA claims, it just doesn't work.

Why should I keep banging my head against a wall for nothing ?

I can't freaking afford it and I do not post this to be rude to you in any way.

Getting a disability rating and working is not unreasonable even at 100%, if it is combined.

Many of the VA rating are based on physical effect and or test results(neuro-psych exam).

If you fit the rating of several ratings who is to say that all of the sudden when it hits 100% combined you are doing something wrong.

NO SHEET - and I do not find anywhere in this entire thread where anyone has even implied like this in their response post

to you.

JMHO - take it or leave it but I'm outta this thread.