Fiddler

How can I find out what info the VA has collected on my claim? I filed my initial claim in Aug 2011 and had a C&P in Sep 2011 for PTSD and Social Anxiety Disorder. With my initial claim application I sent a copy of my DD-214, copies of my VA psychiatrist notes from all of the years I had seen a VA shrink and the form authorizing them to get all other info they might need. But every couple of months I get a update letter from them telling me what they have done and need me to do and they always ask for the same thing. Like proof that I was active duty for 90 days (covered in the DD-214 I sent them) and medical records for what I am claiming (covered in the VA Medical records I sent them). So my question is, how can I find out what info the VA has actually collected on my claim without having to send them the same stuff over and over again? And in the letter I received today, at the top where is says "We are working on your claims for:", they actually added a claim.

One more question. Is it one week before I can request a copy of the C&P exam or two, and can I request it trough my VA outpatient clinic or does it have to be through the VARO? The clinic is an hour a way from me while the VARO is almost three. And at what time period should I request a copy of my C-file? Thanks again.

Well, I just got back from my C&P, and from reading others accounts about their C&P where they lasted for hours leaving them feeling like a wet rag wrung out and hung up to dry, I'm at a loss for words. From the time he asked me to come into his office to the time he ushered me out took only 13 minutes. No tests, like to determine a GAF score or anything like what I was expecting from see other peoples C&P results that are posted on here. At the end he asked me if I had any questions for him and i was to dumbfounded to thing of any. He asked about my stresser, my social life, employment, anger issues, and a few other things I can't remember now, but all he seemed to want were short answers. If I tried to expand on it and add some context to the answer, he seemed to want me to just rush through it and get on to the next question. And I thought this might not be so bad when I saw from the diplomas on his wall that he use to be a psychiatrist in the Army +1 for me, but now I'm not so sure. Although he did say I had symptoms of PTSD, I was left feeling like he didn't actually say I had PTSD. Hell, with us standing in the door, him with his hand out for me to shack, I was still trying to think of things to throw at him like how I'm doing good if I shower and brush my teeth once a month. Guess I need to go ahead and get my NOD started for the impending claims denial. I don't see anything good coming from that. All of those weeks of gut wrenching anxiety for nothing.

Just remembered something else. The C&P is this Friday the 30th and there are two. One in at 1:00 PM and the other is at 3:00 PM. The 3:00 PM is with the Psychiatrist so that should be for the PTSD claim, but the 1:00 PM appointment just says general medical. Anyone know what that one would be for? I'm not applying for anything physical just mental.

Thanks Berta and pete992, I'm not too worried now.

A little back ground. After Desert Storm, I spent the first decade denying something was wrong and steadly getting worse. Finally I went to see a private shrink, told him how I was feeling and he said I had sever Social Anxiety Disorder. (Didn't mention anything about my combat experiance, still didn't want to believe that could be it I guess.) After about two years I started seeing a VA shrink and continued be treated for sever Social Anxiety Disorder. In about 2008 or 2009 I finally told, maybe my 6th VA shrink (they seem to come and go real fast) about my combat experiance and asked about PTSD & disability, because since I got out of the Army in 1993, I have worked maybe a total of two years, and ten minutes later he said that I did have PTSD and gave me the paperwork to file for it. A few months ago, I finally got it filled out and sent in. (yes about two years to work up the nerve to do it. I can sit for thirty minutes with the phone in my hand before I can work up the nerve to order a pizza) and last week I schedualed C&P notice. After searching the internet for what a C&P exam was, and finding this site and some othersI have come to some conclusions. 1. You must first be diagnosed with PTSD from a VA shrink, send in your paperwork, and go to a C&P exam to have the VA diagnosis confirmed. 2. An initial diagnosis can take up to two hours with 3 or 4 tests involved So basically, I'm not sure I have a VA shrink diagnosis of PTSD since I only talked to him for about ten minutes and he said yes, and the only test he gave me was to repeat five words five minutes after he told them to me. So my question is, am i screwed? My C&P is this Friday and I don't think I have time to call my VA clinic and get in for a proper diagnosis.