ptsd Stessor Verification Without Jsrrc?

[SigBnSoldier]

This is my first post in hadit, but I've been reading for nearly a year, thank you for your wisdom!

I've faced a lot of criticism for having a non combat ptsd claim on a different site, so I'll briefly qualify my circumstances in order to get help.

I was stationed in Germany, 1990-1992. During a field exercise, at night, while in uniform, there was a large explosion near my AO at the training area, it was a German civilian transport truck and a small passenger car that had wrecked and caught fire on the nearby autobahn. I along with several other soldiers rushed to the scene and rescued the driver of the truck, and tried unsuccessfully to pull out his passenger before it went up in flames. The passenger didn't make it, and I can't forget the scene and the hopelessness of standing by...

Within a few weeks I started experiencing nightmares, anxiety, panic attacks. I was under the naive assumption that PTSD was only for combat veterans until about a year ago, when I was at the VA clinic in my town to see the mental health. The Psch diagnosed me with PTSD non combat, and encouraged me to file a claim.

To digress, I was diagnosed bipolar at the VA in 2002 also with a previous history of suicide attempts a year and a half after discharge. I was discharged (ETS) honorably in 1996. First suicide attempt was 18 months after. I have many similar diagnosis of bipolar, one of "reaction psychosis", and a depression diagnosis all through VA and inpatient for bipolar/suicidal ideation. I was awarded SSDI in 2003.

Having filled you in, here are my questions-

Do these many diagnosis other than PTSD, after discharge, completely negate this new diagnosis of PTSD?

Second question, I have had a heck of a time gathering proof of my stressor. So far I've submitted a German newspaper article and two eyewitness buddy statements, as well as two family statements and all my post discharge medical history. I've written to the JSRRC, they claim no record of my Signal Battalion in Germany was ever turned in. My brigade and battalion were inactivated in 2007. I have ran into dead ends in finding unit reports of the incident. Can anyone point me in the right direction as to where to search for S-3 reports or Staff Duty journals, so that I can send the VA further proof of my stressor?

Thank you for reading my thread and for your help!

[SigBnSoldier]

Philip is right.. I believe its called presumption of sound. Meaning that they approved you fit for duty. If you did not provide any paperwork for him to review showing that you had prior mental health treatment before service then his opinion is based on here say. Regardless if you thought that was the case back then. This happened to me and I was denied and I had to sent in a NOD in response. You should be fine, but they more than likely will try to pull a quick one on you using that comment.

Dot09- To clarify the reason the examiner brought this up, at the end of the exam, he asked me two strange questions, he said, "this bipolar stuff in your VA medical records, is there anything to that? Do you think you're bipolar?" And then he said, "Oh, by the way, on of the doctors who treated you also mentioned something about maybe some of your symptoms having started when you were a teenager, can you tell me about that?"

Both of these questions took me by surprise. I told him not that I knew of, and was honestly searching my memory for which doctor could have written that. That's when I remembered the coffee and hyperactivity issue, it's the only thing I could remember that remotely fit what he was saying and so I explained it. But these were post service treatment records he was referring to.

[SigBnSoldier]

No, I never shared any paperwork of a diagnosis in teen years, because such paperwork does not exist.

Yes, thats exactly what I told the C&P doctor, "i'm not really qualified to agree with or disagree with that diagnosis, but I can tell you that about half a year before I got out of the army I went on one heck of a manic episode, gambling, staying awake for days, it was a real zinger, and its the first mania I remember."

And that was the end of that 2+ hour C&P exam. I guess the VSR reqested quitea bit. I was surprised I didnt get any MMPI or other tests, which the doc told me at the start "might be necessary at the end of the interview."

Edited April 21, 2013 by SigBnSoldier

[SigBnSoldier]

A final question before letting this thread rest until I have updates on how my C&P went-

I don't feel too positive of the outcome of the C&P because the examiner told me as I was leaving, "I don't know if you met the criteria, I'll have to go over your file and I should have your report written and sent to QTC within a week. I certainly recommend you seek treatment, your VA treating psych is only for medication management in case you didn't know that"

So, I'm thinking there's a good possibility of some other diagnosis. How do I start looking for an IMO in Central California? Will any of these IMO doctors take Medicare? I'd like to be prepared for a denial.

[Philip Rogers]

My suggestion would be that you start being seen at a Vet Center, in your area. If there's not one nearby they do have counseling available w/contracted counselors. Also I'd continue to be seen by the VA. The C&P examiner couldn't possibly make a diagnosis based on your statements about your youth. You should also request a copy of the C&P examiner's report. jmo

pr

[SigBnSoldier]

What I'm gathering through reading multiple threads, is that if denied ptsd because the examiner determines a personality disorder or that I don't meet the criteria, an IMO to rebut that C&P opinion is useless as the VA will not accept it, is that correct? I'm pretty much SOL? It's a one time shot?

[Philip Rogers]

I disagree. I believe the VA's new criteria for PTSD will be tested in court, inasmuch as they are the only ones that can diagnose PTSD, for vets claims. I believe the VA has ordered their staff not to diagnose PTSD but rather use anxiety or some other disorder, instead. jmo

pr

What I'm gathering through reading multiple threads, is that if denied ptsd because the examiner determines a personality disorder or that I don't meet the criteria, an IMO to rebut that C&P opinion is useless as the VA will not accept it, is that correct? I'm pretty much SOL? It's a one time shot?