[Do I Have A Chance?]

It's great to know of a case that's similar to mine winning. Yes...I DO have a problem waiting. I'm usually very patient but when I'm living off of my savings waiting for this decision to go through it drives me insane sometimes. I still haven't heard anything on my claim, it actually moved back to gathering evidence and I talked to the regional office who said that they had everything and it's waiting for a decision. So why it moved backwards in the process a few weeks ago....I have no idea. Just praying for a decision soon so I can move on with my life.

[Switched To Risperidone]

I used to take it and it gave me akethesia at higher doses if I remember correctly so I had to take cogentin or benztropine mesylate along with it. It also made me crave carb loaded junk foods but since I have a high metabolism and workout I didn't gain much weight if any because of that.

[Do I Have A Chance?]

Just checked ebenefits and it is currently in "preparation for decision" status "The Veterans Service Representative has recommended a decision, and is preparing required documents detailing that decision. If more evidence is required, the claim will be sent back in the process for more information or evidence." hopefully it's right, hopefully it won't be too much longer.

[Do I Have A Chance?]

I think you have a good chance of getting service connected by what the C&P exam doctor stated. He said your first psychotic break happened in service. The VA is damned by their own doctor. Now they may still try and say it was pre-existing because nobody wants to pay for your compensation. The Air Farce did not want to pay so they faked your records. If you had broken your back after a year they would have to pay because they took you as being able bodied.

Your C&P exam is better than anyone I ever had in 40 years. He does not say you have a personality disorder so that is good. The AF erred when they discharged you with no benefits because of pre-existing condition. They have no objective evidence of pre-existing condition. What did your discharge say about why you were discharged?

Thanks for the reply, that's good to hear that my C&P exam is great. My discharge just said I was discharged due to condition EPTS, and incorrectly said Bipolar II disorder when all of my other paperwork said Bipolar 1 disorder. They of course cited the depression before service and said that was evidence of my condition existing before service and what occurred in service was natural progression of my disease. I wasn't aware that people with depression often get schizoaffective disorder.

[Do I Have A Chance?]

Thanks for the replies. I want to change shrinks. I will look into doing so.

[Do I Have A Chance?]

Thank you for the replies. And believe me I'm looking for a good game to keep my mind occupied in the meantime, lol.

[Do I Have A Chance?]

Hello, I'm just wondering if I have a chance at all with my claim. I'll go over all of the details so an educated guess can be made.

I served in the USAF for a little over a year, no mental issues whatsoever prior to service although somehow my SMR's state depression started before service and I had a past suicide attempt. I think they must've misheard me because I tend to mumble a lot now. A few months after arriving at my new base to receive final training for my job I was hospitalized and diagnosed as bipolar 1 disorder (now diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder) They discharged me saying it existed prior to service based on the incorrect information in my records that stated depression was experienced before service and the suicide attempt in high school.

I have sent 21438's from myself, my wife, and my mother stating that depression didn't exist whatsoever prior to service and there were no suicide attempts at all. Along with this I have sent a letter from both my psychiatrist and psychologist. My psychologist stated that "more likely than not" my condition was incurred or began during military service. My psychiatrist stated that my initial episode was triggered by military service, and my condition is a result of experiences during military service.

I have had my C&P exam and the examiner stated: " he had what appears to be his first break of psychosis while on active duty and was hospitalized." blah blah blah "The veteran is competent for VA purposes while compliant with medication. He is employable only in a very limited setting in which he would have little contact with the public, very predictable expectations for performance, and very limited changes in environment due to sensitivities to stress."

Diagnoseses:

Axis 1: mood disorder NOS, w/psychotic features

axis2: none

axis 3: see c-folder

axis 4: Stressors are chronic and severe

The psychiatrist, however, keeps telling me that the VA will not accept service connection and claims the outlook is dim for me because my condition would've developed anyways. However, he knows nothing of how the VA works so I try not to take his statements to heart.....I really just don't like they guy. He won't help me with much of anything he just keeps trying to shove me back into work but both times I've tried to return to my job my symptoms flare up and I end up unable to continue working.

My psychiatrists negative outlook on the outcome of my claim is why I'm here asking for input. It keeps running through my head, I need more input negative or positive, just lay it on me please. Waiting for the decision is killing me.