Kim82

Just to give an update, I did contact someone at my congressman's office because my claim was over 280 some days from being filed I thought I had done the fast track I sent in all my med records with my claim and everything so I couldn't see how it was taking so long. So I got a call from the lady that works at his office yesterday and she informed me that she had called the VA and it turned out they had my Claim in the wrong location that they did not fast track it like they were supposed to. I was livid when I found this out, but she did assure me that it was being taken care of and they had everything they needed to decide my case and they were taking my claim to the decision office as we spoke. I checked Ebenefits today and sure enough it's now in the decision phase, the rep told me it would be about 8 weeks but I would have my rating in my hand. I am a bit releaved right now to say the least. But leave it to the VA to mess something like this up.

I know how you feel I check daily as well but I am still in Phase 1 and it's day 286 for me today. Hang in there, there has to be a light at the end of the stupid tunnel right?

Ugggghhhhh I am beyond aggrivated right now. I talked to my OIF case manager about the paperwork from the Dr. and she said because I did not lose conciousness and I did not have post traumatic amnesia and something else that I could not have suffered from A TBI....seriously wtf. since when do you have to have lost concisousness to have a TBI or not remember anything about the attack of course I am going to remember it I remember it like it was yesterday because it was by far the worst experience of my life, how could they expect me to forget that? Ugh I give up sometimes. Either way I have these stupid head aches that never go away even with meds and if they wont let me file for TBI I will at least file for the Migraines, the damn VA needs to take care of me! I didn't get this way because of anything I put myself into jeez! Yeah yeah I signed the dotted line no crap but did I know that it would come with all of this heck no! Had I known would I have signed? Probably not! VA GET IT TOGETHER AND TAKE CARE OF ME! AND EVERYONE ELSE SHEESH!

Thank you for the Welcome, I have read your posts and I agree we sound a lot alike.

Oh I am most deff going to get it changed no doubt about that I can't afford for a mistake like that to mess things up. I will address it on Monday with the patient advocate.

Thanks John, I don't think I will be feeling better anytime soon I have so many things in my life that constantly trigger my ptsd, number one thing being I live in the freaking desert, wasn't my first choice but my family is here. And I will continue to go to the treatment but some of it seems like it's just a good place to vent how I feel with no real cure ya know what I mean, like the lady at the Vet Center she gave me a sheet to write down things that make me mad and how I reacted to it and then how I could have reacted to it, but in my head I don't see anything wrong with how I react to things even when I blow up over the stupidest things. So I am kind of thinking that the therapy isn't going to do much since it's not going to change the way my brain is. How do you ever get better from PTSD? Sure I can learn to live with it but haven't I been doing that all along? Heck I don't know I am so confused on all of this, I just want to take something to make all of the bad go away, I know that's not possible but damn would that be nice. And here I go rambling again, im going to stop now lol.

Berta, thank you for taking the time to reply, What is a nexus statement? I am receiving treatment from the local Vet Center as well as the Mental Health Clinic for OIF/OEF Vets I was also perscribed Topamax for my headaches/ptsd symptoms. The dr said it would help with leveling out my moods so we will see if it works, if not she said she would perscribe me something else. She also gave me ambian because I have a hard time with sleeping, I took it for the first time last night and I actually fell asleep and stayed alseep and I didn't wake up it was an awesome feeling, compared to the sleep or lack of sleep I have been getting the last almost 4 years since I have been home. And in regards to the trauma of losing my mom, there really wasn't a trauma because I did not know her I grew up without her and never thought my life was any different until I was about 10. It's kinda like when you have an allotment the money comes out of your pay but you never see it so you cant miss it, well that's how I feel about that situation. I had a great homelife with my dad and my brother and I think that it was better not having her in my life because she was an alcholic and drug addict so had she been around I could have seen my childhood being a lot worse. So i'd like to see the VA try to use that as a stressor to cause PTSD considering shes been dead for the last 26 years it really doesnt affect me. And that is exactly what I told the Dr that was examining me for my C&P it's funny too becuase when I went to see him I was having a really bad day and I was really short with him and was not being polite at all and thought for sure he was going to give me a bad review or say that I was a total bitch or something but when I got the results I was like wow he actually saw through my shitty attitude and realized my issues, but I guess that is what they are paid to do huh? Anyhow sorry for rambling I have a bad habit of doing that.

Yeah the Va here doesn't seem to be too bad but I am just starting this journey so who knows. I have had pretty good treatment minus the idiot of a tbi dr they sent me to. I got an email from the VA yesterday saying they were going to be sending my claim to the decision phase shortly so who knows how much longer its going to be.

Halos, This Exam wasn't a C&P exam this was a referal by my Primary care dr and the lady at the vet center because they said I screened pos for TBI so they sent me to him as a second level testing. When I talked to my mental health dr yesterday about it she had no doubt that I had TBI so I don't know. I have yet to file a claim for TBI, I was not going to file a claim for something I did not know for 100% I had it just wouldn't be right ya know. So until I can get a definitive answer and diagnosis I am not going to claim it. I am still in my 5 year window for health care so I can still go and see the dr whenever I need or want to. But I will be going for an MRI at some point they put in a request for it so now I just wait for an apt cause I guess they do that off site. Thank you for your input and time :)

So I went to the TBI clinic yesterday to be evaluated for TBI because I screened positive for it with my Primary Care Dr. So the Dr. asks me all these questions then he asks me if I lost conciousness I told him I don't think I did but everything was a blur at the time of the incident but anyhow so I go to the ROI today to get the results and he contradicts himself in the report so I don't know what to think. I will post what he said now: Are the history of the injury and the course of clinical symptoms cosistent with a diagnosis of TBI sustained during OEF/OIF deployment: NO In your clinical judgment the current clinical symptom presentation is most consistent with: A combination of TBI and behavioral health conditions This is where I am confused he says yes I have TBI but then he says it wasn't sustained during OIF.....um how the hell else did I get it? He even states I did not have any other head trauma so I am so confused. When I showed it to my Pysch Dr. today she looked at it and said he probably checked no on accident, so how do I fix this? also at the end of the report it lists Impressions and it says: Concussion, no loss of consciousness, no post traumatic amnesia. Head Aches PTSD Blurring Hearing Loss Intraabdominal Bleed, Treated Non Surgically Should I take the report to the Patient Advocate and see if they can get the dr to fix it? Im not ready to put in a claim with the VA for it yet, because I am still waiting on my inital claim to finalize. I don't want to add to it to slow it down. But I could imagine that when I do file a claim this report is going to make it difficult. Any help is appreciated. Thanks. Kim

Berta I posted the results of my c&p in the c&p forum if you want to look at it but yes he diagnosed me with PTSD

Thank you for your replys. Currently I am still working full time and I would like to continue to work full time but as each day goes by things seem to just be getting worse, I have a hard time dealing with my employees and have snapped on a few of them, they think I am crazy. I manage 11 employees and run the security department for a large bank call center. My job can be quite stressful at times and without any kind of treatment I don't see myself staying here much longer, every day I am afraid that I will lose my job because I am unable to control my temper with my employees. I have an apt today with the OIF/OEF mental health clinic so I hope to at least begin to try to find some kind of treatment that will work for me. I have been seeing a therapist at the Vet Center but it doesn't feel as if it is helping, yes I get to vent to her and tell her things I wouldn't normally tell anyone and it does feel good to get it out but the next day I am right back to square one. Sometimes I just don't know, I find it so difficult to enjoy the simple things in life like my children. I hate what this PTSD has done to me and to my family and I wish that there was a cure for it. Hopefully something will help soon cause I am not sure how much more I can take of this. There are days that I come in to work and only stay a few hours and go home because I can't stand to be around people, then there are days that I just want to quit and never come back but I know I can not afford to do that. Im basically having a tug o war inside my head in regards to everything that is going on in my life right now, I am just waiting to see what wins. Sorry for rambling but I figured if anyone you guys would understand what I am going through, maybe even offer some advice. Thanks, Kim

Hey guys, so I went to the local ROI office here in Las Vegas and got copies of all of my C&P and my medical records. I want to post my C&P from my PTSD exam so you guys can look at it and tell me what you think the VA will give me based on what the Dr. has said. Compensation and Pension Examination Initial Evaluation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Date of Exam: October 28, 2010 PRESENT MEDICAL HISTORY – OVER THE PAST ONE YEAR. Frequency, severity, duration of medical and psychiatric symptoms: The Veterans asthma is daily and mild, and she also complains of back pain which is daily and moderate. Knee pain is also daily and moderate. She also states that depression is daily and moderate to severe, with her anxiety being daily and severs. This woman rates herself at 9/10 anxiety-severity scale. Her score by self rating on a comparable scale for depression is 7/10. The self ratings are consistent with my clinical observations. Length of remissions, to include capacity for adjustments during periods of remissions: None PRE MILITARY HISTORY Family structure and environment: The Veteran lived with her father, one brother, and two sisters. She is married and had two children prior to entering the service. Quality of Peer Relationships: Good Education: The Veteran graduated from High School Employment History: She worked in sales and customer service prior to military service. Legal Infractions: None Delinquency or Behavior conduct disturbances: None Substance Use: None Significant Medical Problems/Treatment: None Family Psychiatric History: None Exposure to Traumatic Stressors: The Veterans’ mother was murdered in 1985. SUMMARY ASSESSMENT: While this veteran was exposed to the trauma of her mother being murdered she actually functioned at a quite high level prior to entering the service. She graduated from H.S. and was able to maintain employment. She had no particular interpersonal or psychiatric problems, and she described the quality of her peer relationships as being “good” MILITARY HISTORY: BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army Dates of Service: 2006-Present Dates and location of war zone duty and number of months stationed in war zone: The Veteran was stationed in Iraq from December 2006-May 2007 Military Occupational Specialty: 88M Truck Driver Highest rank obtained during service: PFC Type of discharge from military: Honorable Substance use: None Combat wounds: Internal bleeding from an IED in February 2007 Specific stressor event considered particularly traumatic: The Veteran’s truck was hit with an IED, being shot at on a daily basis. Overall level of traumatic exposure based on frequency and severity of incident: Moderate to severe POST MILITARY PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT: Marital and Family Relationships: The Veteran was married may 2007 and has three children. Degree and quality of Social Relationships: Her relationship with her children is at a good status, but with her family members, co-workers, and friends are fair. Activities and Leisure Pursuits: She states she has no time for any hobbies. Substance Use: None Significant Medical Disorders: None Treatment History for Significant Medical Conditions: None Summary: The Veteran obviously experienced deterioration in her level of functioning on a post service basis. Whereas previously her general interpersonal relationships were “good” no they are only fair. She is made very uncomfortable by certain “triggers” such as certain parts of the desert that remind her of Iraq. She complains that her husband says that she is now “different” and she acknowledges that her own children “get on my nerves” She told me that she has been trying to get help for 7 months from the VA but she feels that she is being discriminated against because “they did not want females in an infantry battalion” She has experienced disillusionment with the leadership of the Army and the country to be extent that she now feels that the Iraq war was “pointless” In contrast to her previously outgoing style of functioning, she now avoids traveling outside of the city and even her own children. As noted above she is now significantly anxious and depressed, both of which are typical symptoms of PTSD. ASSESSMENT OF PTSD: Identify primary stressors: The primary stressor in this case is clearly the veteran’s combat experiences, as detailed earlier in this report. State if the veteran meets the DSM-IV stressor criterion: The veteran meets the DSM-IV stressor criteria for post traumatic stress. Identify behavioral, cognitive, social, affective, or somatic changes the veteran attributes to stress exposure: The veteran has become very distrustful of the leadership of this country, which contributes to a significant feeling of insecurity. She is now anxious and depressed, and her sleep is disturbed. She is made extremely uncomfortable brought on by various triggers, such as parts of the desert around Las Vegas remind her of Iraq. She has interpersonal difficulties, now only getting along with others in a fair manner. She even has difficulty in tolerating her own children unfortunately. Her husband is complaining that she is now “different” obviously not regarding this as a positive change. Describe specific PTSD symptoms present: Anxiety, depression, and negative reactions to stimuli that are reminiscent of Iraq. She has the predicted interpersonal problems, not only with others but within her own family and as detailed earlier in this report. Specify onset/frequency/severity of symptoms: The onset was during combat, and the symptoms have been moderate to severe and continuous, without remission since her return from the war. State is the current symptoms are linked to the identified stressor: The symptoms are definitely and are directly linked to the stress of combat, as shown by her negative reaction to scenes that remind her of her experiences in Iraq. Diagnosis: The veteran meets criteria for PTSD. DIAGNOSTIC STATUS: Axis I Disorders: Post traumatic stress disorder, associated with depression. Axis II Disorders: None Axis III Disorders: Asthma and orthopedic disorder as discussed above. Axis IV Disorders: Moderate coping with anxiety, interpersonal and psychosocial/environmental stressors familiar difficulties, and financial pressures. Axis V (Current GAF): 60 CAPACITY TO MANAGE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS: In my opinion the veteran is competent to manage her own VA benefit payments in her own best interest. STRESSOR STATEMENT IN RELATION TO VETERANS FEAR TO HOSTILE MILITARY OR TERRORSIT ACTIVITY: The PTSD claimed by the veteran has been related specifically to her fear of hostile military and possible terrorist activity. INTEGRATED SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS: Changes in psychosocial functional status following trauma exposure: The veteran has clearly suffered a major deterioration in her ability to function both occupationally and interpersonally. She is now only able to relate to others in a “fair” manner, and she even has difficulty in toleration her own children. She is frequently uncomfortable by stimuli that remind her of combat experience and she is additionally frequently sleep deprived. Changes in quality of life following trauma exposure: There has clearly been deterioration in this veteran’s quality of life. Describe linkage between PTSD symptoms and aforementioned changes in impairment in functional status and quality of life: The deterioration in this veteran’s life and her presenting symptoms are clearly related to her combat experiences and that she functioned at a much higher level prior to entering the United States Army having had no significant psychiatric problems prior to her entrance into the service. Extent to which disorders other than PTSD are independently responsible for impairment in psychosocial adjustment and quality of life: No other disorders appear relevant to me. Describe pre trauma risk factors/characteristics that may have rendered the veteran vulnerable to developing PTSD subsequent to trauma exposure: While the murder of her mother might be regarded as a risk factor, the veteran actually appeared to deal with that quite well, being able to graduate from high school and maintain employment and secure induction into the United States Army. Therefore, I believe that she actually entered the Army with no preexisting risk factors for the development of my psychiatric disorder. Prognosis for improvement of psychiatric condition and impairments in functional status: Good given her age and her desire to receive help, which she expressed to me on a number of occasions. Capacity in managing benefit payments in veteran’s own best interest: No limitation EFFECTS OF PTSD ON OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING: Statement: There is reduced reliability and productivity due to PTSD signs and symptoms. Example: This veteran now suffers interpersonal difficulties and she is frequently uncomfortable around stimuli that remind her of Iraq she even has difficulty in tolerating her own children, and she has marital problems in the sense her husband regards her as now being “different” in a negative way. I know it's a lot to read and I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read this.

Oh no I don't qualify for that I have been off active duty since end of 07.

Carlie. I do go to the vet center here already she is really awesome. What is BDD I have not heard of that before. When I get home I will post up my results from my c&p exam in the c&p forums.

Thank you for taking the time to read my long post, I went and picked up my C&P results from the ROI for my PTSD Claim and I am satisfied with his findings, now just to wait to see what the VA thinks about them.

Thank you I appreciate you taking the time to read through my lengthy post, I will be picking up the last of my C&P exam papers here in a little bit and I am sure I will be starting a new topic about their findings, I am hoping that they are in my favor but you can never tell with this system.

I am on day 259 and my claim is still in Phase 1.

Thank you for the Welcome, I am not sure what you are reffering to when you posted the criteria for the Hip. I didn't sustain any hip injury to my knowlege. Also It appears that my profile is listing me as being a male and I am a female so I don't know how that got mixed up but I am not authorized to make any changes to my profile at this time, maybe you could help?

Hello everyone, My name is Kim and I was released from active duty in September 2007 and since June 2008 I have been serving in an Army Reserve unit here in Las Vegas. I was deployed to Iraq from 2006-2007 with the 82nd ABN DIV 1/505 PIR (Forward Support Company) I was one of 7 females in the whole unit, my MOS was 88M (Truck Driver) I am now a 42A(Human Resources) While in Iraq I was tasked with working checkpoints searching women and children, when I wasn't doing that I would be driving convoys to relocate detainees to bigger fobs and to resuply. On February 12 2007 I was in a convoy going to FOB Speicher we were on MSR Tampa there was a black intertube on the side of the road the lead truck called it up and my Platoon Sgt said for us to keep going, even though we had EOD in our convoy with us. We continue on our route not long after that I came upon the intertube and when I saw it I knew something wasn't right. I was driving an LMTV with 6 Iraqi Detainees in the back of it. I pressed the gas as far as it would go hoping that I could pass this object without anything happening. As soon as my cab cleared it, it went off the IED hit right behind my cab and injured all of the detainees in the back very badly. I was later found to have mild internal bleeding but was told I would recover just fine. After that I was not the same, Going on missions for me I was begging and wanting to die, I didn't care anymore I had given up and knew that my life could be taken at anytime and I didn't care because it would have been better with everything that I was dealing with at the time I would have been better off dead. After getting back from Iraq I knew I had issues with my temper and my attitude about a lot of things. I just kept telling myself that it was normal and I would get back to me soon, well after waiting nearly 4 years I have come to see this is not the case. I filed a claim with the VA in May 2010 for PTSD, and a few other health issues that I have had since Iraq. I have gone to all of my C&P appointments and my file is still in the 1st Phase of the process so god only knows how long it will take for them to give me a rating. I have recently started seeing a therapist at my local Vet Center, everything was beginning to be too much for me to handle on my own and so I finally broke down and made a phone call. I just hope that it gets better, my marriage is hanging on by a thread right now because of everything. I have horrible insomnia, It takes me hours to fall asleep and I wake up numerous times during the night I lay there trying to go back to sleep until my alarm goes off then it's time to go to work. My fuse has been getting shorter by the day and I am not sure how much more of this I can handle, I blow up on people for anything anymore and I hate it. This is not who I am I don't know this person that is living my life and I don't like her and she needs to go the hell away so I can have my life back. Everything is affecting my work performance and I don't know how much longer I can keep trying to pretend like everything is fine and do my job at the same time, it is very time consuming and it drains all of my energy. I just don't know what to do anymore. I found this site through google and after reading some of the forums I decided that this might be a good place for me to get advice and help since I have no real support system here. I am working with a VSO with the VFW for my claim but I don't know how much help he really will end up being. So that is me in a nutshell I guess, I am sure I am leaving things out because my memory sucks and I forget things so dang easily but this will have to do for now. Kim