Normal C&P for Depression?

[JWMN89]

I was given a medical discharge for depression from the service about 20 years ago and have a 20 year history of ongoing mental health treatment.  I finally decided to file for VA benefits (I've always worked) and had my C&P exam a couple weeks ago and wondered if this was a normal experience.

The exam lasted almost three hours and I had to take a long test of a couple hundred questions.  The doctor (psychologist) was very nice and he seemed interested in my case but asked a lot of questions about my childhood.  My case  involved childhood MST and repressed memories of it until a flashback while I was on active duty brought everything out.  I was tossed in the hospital and given a medical discharge for depression, existing prior to entry, service aggravated condition per the medical board.

I'm a bit worried the doctors focus on my childhood means he was trying to say I was depressed prior to the service which isn't the case.  With the repressed memory of the rape I had a pretty normal growing up experience after the event and had friends and a stable family.  He seemed to be trying to get me to say my current problems with trusting people were related to what happened then.  Obviously they are but I was concerned he spent hardly any time on the in-service stressor that led to the flashback or the fact I've been pretty miserable since then.

I had a friend tell me not to worry that it's normal and he may be trying to figure out what percentage of my disability was existing prior to entry versus how much was service aggravated.  I've got the service connection thing taken care of with the "service aggravated" note on the medical board and my private psychiatrist wrote a nexus letter and completed a DBQ stating my conditions are related to my service.  I'm thinking I have enough medical evidence to show it but I'm concerned about the C&P examiners report. 

Do you think I need to worry about this? (I have anxiety issues too).  Is a three hour exam normal?  Do you think the examiner was just being detailed and it'll be OK?  He said it would be a couple weeks to view his report and I'm still waiting but I'm a nervous wreck. 

JW in MN

[JWMN89]

18 minutes ago, broncovet said:

RED FLAG!!!!;  You posted:

Now, the regulations (Caluza elements), state that you must have all these 3 for sc:

1.  Current diagnosis (MST/PTSD etc). 

2.  IN SERVICE EVENT OR AGGRAVATION.  

3. Nexus or link between one and two.  

     It sounds like you are arguing that something in service happened which aggravated your MST.   Did you document this??    Did your entrance physical state you had MST as a child?  

Generally, VA LOVES to deny stuff they said we had prior to service.  

No the memory was repressed in childhood.  My entrance exam was very normal and the in service flashback that brought it out was well documented and resulted in hospitalization and discharge.  The medical board noted it existed prior to entry but was service aggravated so I don't anticipate a problem there.

 

JW in MN

[MikeHunt]

It's hard not to worry when someone has their future in their hands. And that person's part of the VA.

I don't quite understand why they did another C&P if you had a DBQ and opinion from your physician.

You were discharged because of the disability, and it was noted the service aggravated it. Sounds 'Slam-Dunk' to me.

I don't think they can say 'preexisting' if it's not noted on your enlistment exam, just about no matter what. I've read such- I can find citations later.

[Buck52]

If a C&P examiner takes the veterans C-file home  with him/her and goes through it all night with a fine tooth comb there's no telling what they will come up with, I had an examiner do that to me  on a loss of hearing claim...he said I was tested for my hearing at my separation exit from the military and my hearing showed to be perfect or good ## as he put them up.

well that was years ago from my date claim..I had to get a IMO specialist and take another hearing test and in my lay statement I agree with this C&P Examinner my hearing was good at my seperation no doubt, but my point I made and the specialist was that hearing loss can be related to and caused by noise induced From past loud sudden noise....and I put my MOS in and why and what I had to indure in Vietnam from loud sudden noise &  that years later loss of hearing will occure and it did with me as it has with thousand of other veterans...The DRO believe my specialist over the VA ENT Examiner.

[Buck52]

@ broncovet

 '' Did your entrance physical state you had MST as a child? '' 

How does a veteran get MST as a Child?

Edited July 26, 2017 by Buck52

[JWMN89]

44 minutes ago, Buck52 said:

@ broncovet

 '' Did your entrance physical state you had MST as a child? '' 

How does a veteran get MST as a Child?

Should just be ST.  Typo.  No it wasn't mentioned anywhere as it was a repressed memory. 

[Buck52]

Roger That JW