ptsd Stressors

[Berta]

This might help the widow here who needs to prove a stressor as well as others.

Definition of a Stressor:

The VA defines a stressor based on the DMS –IV (Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) thus:

“the person experienced,witnessed,or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threathened death or serious injury,or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others, and the person’s response involved intense fear,helplessness, or horror.”

A stressor also involves having persistent traumatic re- occurences of the event- such as flashbacks, external reminders of the stressor, distressing dreams of the stressor etc.

Many avoidance efforts as to avoidance of thoughts, people, places that remind of the stressor , and often a feeling of detachment.

The full gamut of PTSD symptoms is found within the DSM IV Manual and VA uses this manual as a guideline to diagnose PTSD.

When I worked with the PTSD group at a Vet Center, the vets always would say ‘before,during, and after’-to define how tremendously they changed due to the Vietnam War.(as well as the whole country-these vets came back to a much different America then they left.)

The changes in their behavior and reactions, sleep patterns and interactions with family and friends were symptomatic of PTSD.

Also the VA considers some events as part of the nature of warfare and not stressors.I have seen statements like that in BVA decisions.

If a combat vet say ‘I saw dead people during the war ’, this does not raise to stressor level as it is part of the nature of warfare.

If the vet however says ‘my buddy blew up in a land mine explosion’, that is a stressor and the VA can verify , with the Unit reports and deceased veteran’s name, that the veteran has a confirmed stressor.

“We took incoming’ – a usual nature of warfare-not a stressor

“Our unit lost 3 men during incoming at Danang in 1966 and one man was Sgt ---- who I knew ----.and I had to help them put these men into body bags. A stressor which can be confirmed.

‘Hanoi Hannah said we would be overcome by the weekend.’ Not a stressor.She lied all the time.

The enemy overtook our camp by the weekend and I had my first kill. A stressor- which unit reports could prove.

‘There was a horrific accident on the runway and they say 20 men were lost ‘. not a stressor

“I participated in recovery ops after there had been a terrible plane accident at the airport in Danang.20 men had died and no one survived.” A stressor that could be proven by the veteran’s MOS and unit reports.

Sometimes a veteran will not give the VA enough details as to the stressor and how it affected them.

This is just a pretty generic description of stressors but the VA holds to the DSM as to how they describe them.

Although the most difficult thing a PTSD can do is to recall in detail stressful events-whether stateside or in combat- as there are MANY reasons a veteran can have stressors and PTSD that have nothing to do with combat-

it is often the details that VA needs in order to confirm what the veteran described was consistent with the circumstances .

An example of what I mean is Swann V. Brown. The veteran was working at a USAF refueling air base in Vietnam and the air base was attacked by mortars.

He claimed this as a combat stressor.

The CAVC found that this did not constitute " engaging in combat" as the veteran could not rpove he was close to the mortars attacks and there had been no casualties.

Buddy statements have to be detailed too.One buddy statement I read that a vet I know got told the VA the exact detailed circumstances of the stressor, and how the buddy could verify that the claimant veteran was at this same stressor with him and the buddy even gave VA his C file number and told the VA they could check his C file if needed because he received PTSD comp for this same stressor event. The vet I knew had 6 buddys to contact- mainly to tell them they had received awards from the Vietnamese that they didnt know they got (long story -my daughter translated an Official Vietnamese document and they all got awards, one got the DFC) and ironically one buddy was able to confirm this stressor for one of them (actually the Vietnamese document citations would sure have awarded PTSD too to them all.)

Of 6 buddys =one had died and I think maybe they couldnt find one of them- it took this vet many months but he did reach 4 or 5 of them. This can be done.Buddys can be found.Simply googling their name as well as checking reunion rosters and going to unit web sites has made finding a buddy much easier than it used to be prior to the internet.

A Wall tracing too can be used to verify you lost a buddy in Vietnam. You have to search the Wall via buddy's hometown, unit , approx date of death and name.

Even at the moving Wall -with this information-they can find the exact panel where the Buddy's name is and you can provide a tracing of it as evidence for VA claims.

[gp747]

as in my case where i am having a hard time proving stressors due to my

m.o.s. duece and half truck driver away from my main unit. sometimes

being there and gone very quickly no-one to help me verify.

driving all over the place for a whole tour you cant help but run into stressors

not to mention constantly having to be aware of mines ,traps etc.

and eventually i was hospitalized in vietnam to be psychiatrically evaluated showing symptoms of ptsd while still in country.

i really think in some cases as mine where i was hospitalised there should be a

presumption of ptsd . i am going to fight for that and i think that could be a supreme court argument. there should be persumption of ptsd especially when you have diagnoses ata c and p exam and social security exam of ptsd.

i think the burden of proof ought to lie with the va having to prove otherwise rather than the veteran having to prove stressors ,when curr says they cannot verify because of persons m.o.s. they should take the veterans word

Edited December 24, 2008 by skunk

[hawkcrewchief]

I have most of the symptoms that you described there, but like skunk said how many stressors do you need to prove your case I have at least one that can be proven with unit military records and news coverage of the incident, and another that hopefully can be proven because I was in an Air Ambulance in a combat zone, but then how can I prove to them my stressors other than my MOS and my military awards...?. But from what I read most of the bad stuff will probably get written off as usual nature of warfare. So then it comes down to wording like Berta's VERY good examples showed. Im just sooo confused, I swear they make it sooo hard so that you just quit and go away. geeeezzzzzzz :D

[gp747]

i really think the law should be changed on some of this stressor stuff

not only what is a stessor ,but everyone is different and what would

cause ptsd for one person might not for another. i do think every case

should have its unique evaluation as in my case it should be obvious

since being hospitalized in country for a breakdown.

i am going to see these guys in a higher court.

Edited December 24, 2008 by skunk

[Philip Rogers]

hawkcrewchief: I'm sorry but yes they do make it hard for you and they do want you to give up. Also, you only need one verifiable stressor. The verifiable stressor thing is just another way to deny your claim. How many of us kept diaries and they know that. Spend about $135 and purchase the Veterans Benefit Manual and you'll win. You can find a link to it at www.nvlsp.org or is it .com, I don't remember. It tells you how to argue "the usual nature of warfare" write off thing.

pr

I have most of the symptoms that you described there, but like skunk said how many stressors do you need to prove your case I have at least one that can be proven with unit military records and news coverage of the incident, and another that hopefully can be proven because I was in an Air Ambulance in a combat zone, but then how can I prove to them my stressors other than my MOS and my military awards...?. But from what I read most of the bad stuff will probably get written off as usual nature of warfare. So then it comes down to wording like Berta's VERY good examples showed. Im just sooo confused, I swear they make it sooo hard so that you just quit and go away. geeeezzzzzzz :D

Edited December 24, 2008 by Philip Rogers

[Berta]

Philip -I am glad you suggested buying the VBM-

I hesitate to do that here-it seems like I am advertising for NVLSP ( who sure are the best vet lawyers around in my opinion)but I have suggested doing this myself here many times too-

and I think you and I discussed in the past the many benefits that come with the $135.00 investment in the VBM.

There is much info in the VBM as to stressors and how to prove them.NVLSP wont let me publish here too much of their stuff word for word- due to copyright etc-

but without the VBM (I have bought them since 1991) I do believe I sure would have lost my last claims and would have never won the CUE on the FTCA offset from the Regional COunsel.

For my present CUE claims the VBM was invaluable and also if a vet has an intricate SMC situation that gets into the higher levels of SMC- the VBM can also be an asset there too as they give examnples of countless ways that the highest SMC level can be reached through medical evidence.

We need all the information we can get for claims help and this manual from NVLSP provides not only guidelines for fully developing claims and seeking evidence but they always have citations from CAVC that describe court decisions that also can help vets tremendously.

NVLSP is a non profit org and they sure arent making much money but are always watching our backs.

BTW they just sued the US Army. I dont know how that will fly due to Feres they have taken another stand in behalf of veterans to try to rectify the wrong treatment so many of you have received from the Mil as well as the VA.

You always provide excellent advise and support here and I appreciate that.