chinavet

My IU C&P was Wednesday and the report was in my file today. It shows a GAF of 30 and a paragraph stating I'm unemployable due to my service connected PTSD. Any chance they can go against the doc on this one? I now have two docs, two years apart who have Given me a 30 GAF. VA rated me at 70% and I put in for tdiu in November of last year.

Congrats! Fantastic that they moved so quickly for you. Good luck with your job hunting!

Congrats!!! I love a happy ending.

They notified me today they have changed it from an exam to a opinion review of my records. Not sure how to interpret that change...

T-Bird Any news on your dog??? I go to pick mine up on the 20th. That is, if the three C&P exams about to be scheduled do not interfere. A vet was disqualified from the program and I moved up on the list as a match for the dog. I am crazy lucky that it all happened 5 months earlier than projected. Who are you working with?

Congrats. It is always good to see so much support and good feelings poured out. I understand when you talk about the relief and disbelief. Relax. Enjoy everything you can.

Thanks. That's wonderful...

I have cut way back on Klonopin and no longer rely on it to sleep. It's dangerous and morality rates are higher for folks who use sleep aids. So I have tried some new methods with some success: No TV or computer for 1 hour before bed. These cause melatonin issues and biologically screw up ability to sleep I take Melatonin: it puts me right out. But it has a short half life so should be taken within 30-40 minutes of actually going to bed. If you pass 90 minutes you likely need to take it again. It's non addictive and works on me like a charm if I'm not super stressed. Prazosin/minpress It's a blood pressure med. and in small doses at night has proven to reduce nightmares and might terrors. I had my first week of terror free sleep on this last week!!! It makes me a little shaky in the morning but works! It also brought down my resting heart rate which the cardiologist said had climbed to 105 due to PTSD... My BP is normally fine and doesn't go too low on the medicine. Check with your primary care doc or shrink. Other insights??

Do they count VA payments? 100% would exceed $32,000

A VA employee read my file and spread word of my diagnosis far and wide. I went to patient records and asked them to put an alert on my file and to monitor access. They will do this without question. And you can obtain a list of those who snoop. At Hines VA they had some abrasive madman processing travel who yelled at fields and let their status be known to everyone waiting. I went straight to Patient Advocacy and he's working elsewhere. HIPPA has some implementation problems at the VA. Before I became really sick I was a clinical director at a rehab hospital. Breach of confidentiality was in the top 2-3 things you could do to get dismissed. Rightfully so... Anxious to see how this turns out for you.

Thanks. I'm slow to trust the Chicago VARO. They put me thru several years of admin induced stress. Yes, I'm always honest. I'd trade an arm or a leg for a panic free year. I've conquered a lot in my life. Not giving in but somedays it is like fighting the ocean with a sword. Thanks again all.

They have scheduled me for an IU C&P. My last C&P was in November of 2010 and my GAF was a 30. Things have been worse since. I'm not sure why they can't just use treatment records. Should I be worried?

Yes. It was arduous. My claim was once denied because I didn't show. I discovered I could have gone to Japan for my C&P. It's a crap shoot when you get your C&P out of country as far as experienced docs. If you can get a diomatic staff doc it might be good. They tend to be more attentive and less hurried. I'm my case it was best to go back to my home hospital as they had known and treated me for 8 years. My evaluator turned out to be the doc who treated me for many years. It made it less stressful for me and the report was really accurate. AMC granted my claim 10 months after my C&P after 10 years of admin related denials ( like I didn't show cause they gave me a week to come from China...) Good luck. Please tell me how you did!

T-bird: Who is supplying your dog??

Got a call yesterday from Freedom Service Dogs in Denver. I had applied in January after learning of them here on Hadit. I had my doctor's eval done, had my personal interview with them and was accepted. I was told by them that the wait might be 12-18 months, so I settled in for the long haul. Nothing could be longer than the VA, right? After only 7 months I am in! I go to Denver on the 17th of Sept. for two weeks of training and then the trainer will come here to Chicago and work with us for a week! Gander is his name: a two year old mixed breed they rescued and trained at about a $20K expense. Everyone on the staff loves him as I am sure I will..... Thanks Hadit! You made this possible.... Gander in action:

I would not wait until the C&P to get to the VA and establish a connection between what is going on with you now and the stressor. And it would not hurt to get some help with the issues you are facing. Goof luck

Congrats Fast work! What regional office? Best wishes for full recovery!

My favorite section of the forums! I love seeing people happy. Congrats!

Seems to run counter to the tie goes to the Vet rule that governs appeals. There seems to be no standard of practice that runs across the board....

Congrats!! Hard to imagine it took two years with all you had going on. So glad it's over and you can enjoy your family with peace of mind.

Congrats!!

Interesting development. VARO keeps calling me trying to verify my homelessness. The guy said today that even if they do verify My situation that I might not get expedited treatment Since I have a check for 70% coming in. In the time they waste verifying my status couldn't They just decide my claim? Jeez.

Thank all of you so much! I am in the appeal period and did turn in the documents needed for an upgrade. I will let them decide this upgrade. It has been in since 2010 and they've had all they need to Rate it since January. After they make a ruling I will decide whether or Not to submit a CUE though it sounds like they will balk. After 12 years of this I may just quit what feels like a part time job with the VA if my upgrade is Approved Thank you again. So glad I found you guys.

Wonderful news for you and for others! Seven months! Fantastic....

Thank you both. The VA said they were unable to obtain information. You're right. Had there been a Hadit in my life then I would have been better prepped. I was flying blind And the DAV was giving no guidance. I'm just glad now that both of us have verification Of our earlier diagnosis. Thanks. I'll keep you posted. Doogie, anxious to hear how yours turns out!!