Barbamatt

That's a snomed code not an icd9 code but here is the list I have.
 
http://sticomputer.com/newwebsite/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Mental-Health-Diagnosis-Codes.pdf

It's just a generic clinical code for depressive disorder.

I have my Bachelors of Health Science from TUI...found out that the school is mostly unknown and unimportant...when putting it on a resume...I have worked, but have a hard time keeping a job if I am lucky to get one.

I now get SSDI and am still only 60% SC. My education hasn't helped me with work...I am just unable to work right now due to my SC conditions.

I don't know about personal satisfaction. In the medical field it is all about having credentials more than the education. You need it on paper that you can do the skills that you have trained to do. You need certifications and licenses. The diploma is only something nice to hang on the wall. Sorry to put it that way...but you have to have something on paper that the state will allow you to work in that job.

I would love it if I could work again. I worked in health care for many years. I was a Navy Corpsman and sought civilian certifications....I have skills and experience, but none of that matters as my SC keeps me from working. I have issues with keeping a decent job if I am lucky enough to get one.

Usually the date of onset of a disability is the last day you worked. Sometimes they assign a date. When I went to court the judge didn't agree with the date I claimed and asked me to amend the date to a later time in order to receive a favorable decision.

Sometimes you have to accept a later date to get a decision in your favor...it is SS way to pay you less....but getting a decision is sometimes better than fighting it.

< The VA is supposed to fix me up with another therapist, but in this area they're severely short-staffed >

Then they should refer you to a specialist in private practice via the Non-VA Healthcare Office, i.e., VA pays for it since they can't provide it for you at the VA facility. That is part of the new law Congress just passed and the President signed. IMHO vets need to hold VA's feet to the fire on this one. If the local VA can't/won't provide the care a vet needs, then the VA has an obligation to find the vet that care in the community and VA foots the bill.

Regarding the loss of your long-time therapist, my heart goes out to you. That is a major loss and you have a right to grieve--and anger is part of the grieving process!

On the one hand it is true that it is hard for VA to hire bad employees. In fact, I understand it's one of the top vote getters in VA surveys--VA employees see it as a problem and say "we need to be able to get rid of the deadwood!"

On the other hand, there are a lot of highly skilled, compassionate, hard-working healthcare professionals who do get fired (or forced to resign) because they won't go along with management b.s., or the won't kiss the derrierre of a power-hungry, narcissistic boss; or they are a whilstleblower, and we all know how VA management deals with whistleblowers; etc., etc. So I bet your therapist pissed off some tyranical manager and they made her life hell for a long time and found nit picky reasons to force her out (kind of like Chinese water torture is a typical M.O.).

Maybe your therapist will go into private practice in your community. Look on the Psychology Today therapist finder website, Google/Bing her name, check on Facebook - maybe you can find her and she can give you the scoop. There might be legal issues that prevent her from talking about it, but maybe not.

Hang in there. And, yes, do go to the C&P exam. Don't shoot yourself in the foot. VA screwed up (probably)--don't let their mistake hurt you. And if you get a good C&P doc, they might be sympathetic to what happened to you.

Usually the date of onset of a disability is the last day you worked. Sometimes they assign a date. When I went to court the judge didn't agree with the date I claimed and asked me to amend the date to a later time in order to receive a favorable decision.

Sometimes you have to accept a later date to get a decision in your favor...it is SS way to pay you less....but getting a decision is sometimes better than fighting it.

In my case they gave me an onset date two months after I stopped working. The judge thought that I earned too much money during the period of time I claimed to have worked in 2012...I agreed to the date he recommended in order to receive my fully favorable decision. I risked him granting me a partially favorable decision with the date changed anyway or a denial.

Sometimes the judge thinks that you may have been able to work past the last day you worked or they just don't agree with the date. For whatever reason they will set a new date that is later than the date that you stopped working. It may seem arbitrary...I can not say if that is the case...but it seems like it sometimes.

For me I accepted the later date, for two reasons. One he ruled in my decision on the spot if I agreed to amend it there...and two it was only 2 months...I felt that I had more to lose to fight it than to accept it...I can't tell you what to do.

If you accept the later date you give up some money, but if it means that you win your case, you might be better off....but if it is going to put a financial hardship on you it might be worth appealing.

You dont have to feel guilty. VA compensation is based on the 100% whole person concept. If due to injury, sickness, or loss of limb you are less than 100% whole upon discharging, you might be due compensation based on the ailment if you meet VA standards for compensation. Not all military personnel see the battle field; however the United States Military is a coordinated team effort of every branch and specialty code. The goal is to promote democracy, protect the constitution, and provide the light of opportunity for all. All service members play a part in the United States having the best military in the world.

bojack - I purchased your medals and paid for them w/paypal. You be sure and keep them and don't try to sell them again. BTW, you can get free replacement of your medals from the government, once. I just hope this wasn't a con. Good luck!!!

pr

Just did a round of visits to the VAMC. I did the "stupid veteran" trick: "Oh, I used the kiosk but is there anything else you need?" with the check in desk. It seemed to work, and I wasn't lost in the system...or more lost that the others sitting in the waiting room. The check in desk has to pay attention to the kiosk sending them a message that the patient is there and checked in. Not sure what the savings or benefit is to the VAMC.

That sounds like the old shell game from The Price is Right. The same thing has been happening here in Birmingham for years.

- Robocalls happen only 50% of time
- Received letters in the mail for an appt postmarked the same or next day of the appt
- Was given hand written appt cards when leaving clinic. They never show up in the auto appt system.
- The big surprise I got was an unsolicited appointment. I arrived and the doc said, what seems to bring you in today. I answered, your appointment letter.

A couple of years ago, the VA had this big initiative to educate patients about no-shows. They setup these easels with charts showing # and % met vs no shows for the past month or so. Have not seen those out in force for a while. Someone in my VAMC took a marker and drew body parts on the charts. Not sure if that got rid of the easels...

I've had two C&P exams for my depression...the first one the psychiatrist was friendly (too friendly) but he got me off topic. He wanted to talk about current events.He asked me questions about some things that were on the news at the time and what I thought about it. I was being polite and discussed what he wanted to talk about. I think he was trying to throw me off, and it worked. I wasn't sure about it at the time but realized later it went horrible because we didn't really discuss me and my illness. Don't let them get off topic..and be prepared to bring it back to you and your symptoms. After this one I was rated 0%

The second time I went I had made a list of my symptoms to help me remember what to say. The Dr. was more professional and stayed focused. It was a lot different the second time. The Dr. literally read a script from her computer. She asked questions right off her screen and typed in my answers as she went. It was tense. I do remember there was a loud veteran in the next room. He was acting out and it was very distracting...I was very distracted by the noise in the next exam room...and the fact that she was so robotic about the exam. Needless to say I was uncomfortable. I told her that I was getting uncomfortable and that I felt nervous. It was true...I think it helped me in the long run....but it was longer exam than the first one...she was a lot more thorough....Now that it is over I am glad that the other guy inadvertently helped my case prove that I get distracted and anxious. After this one I was rated 50%

My most important advice is to bring a list of symptoms with you. You will be allowed to read it or even hand it to the doctor. If you become uncomfortable at anytime during the exam let them know that you are. It is not the time to be polite or be strong. If you feel like crying then cry, as long as you aren't faking it...be real.

If you're set up on ebenefits you can check there. If not, call Peggy (not a real name) at the 800 number, as suggested by jbasser.

pr

Welcome. Just because you are now under VA healthcare and not under DOD healthcare does not mean they have the right to lower the standard of healthcare you are entitled to receive. Your PCP sounds like a jerk who should not be working in the VA healthcare system. Ask for a new PCP and tell them why you are requesting the change.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), was the manual that doctors use to diagnose mental illness. It has been recently updated to DSM V and they have changed some of the terminology and the way disorders are diagnosed. It is technical gobbley-goop for the medical profession.

In the old DSM IV, PTSD didn't have the "acquired" added to it. DSM 5 now classifies mental disorders as either life long or an acquired disorder. The theory is that you "acquire it" later in life due to some sort of traumatic event. It doesn't really mean much other than how they label it. They have to label the disorders in order to get insurance to pay for it...that is all the labeling is about...and they need to define it for you to get your C&P.

As long as it is still able to be SC I wouldn't worry too much about it. Basically it is the same thing they just used more words to describe it.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), was the manual that doctors use to diagnose mental illness. It has been recently updated to DSM V and they have changed some of the terminology and the way disorders are diagnosed. It is technical gobbley-goop for the medical profession.

In the old DSM IV, PTSD didn't have the "acquired" added to it. DSM 5 now classifies mental disorders as either life long or an acquired disorder. The theory is that you "acquire it" later in life due to some sort of traumatic event. It doesn't really mean much other than how they label it. They have to label the disorders in order to get insurance to pay for it...that is all the labeling is about...and they need to define it for you to get your C&P.

As long as it is still able to be SC I wouldn't worry too much about it. Basically it is the same thing they just used more words to describe it.

Nope I just found out navy...Here is how it works. Your VA comp is not calculated in as income for SSDI tax.

Here is the other one. Your kids dependent payments are NOT taxable either and are NOT calculated as income as part of your SSDI income. Only YOUR SSDI income and your wife's incomes are calculated. Here is how it works:

If you are married and file a joint return, you may have to pay taxes on 50 percent of your benefits if you and your spouse have a combined income that is between $32,000 and $44,000. If your combined income is more than $44,000, up to 85 percent of your Social Security benefits is subject to income tax.

So, if you and your wife's income; Your SSDI (just yours not any dependents payouts) and your wife's income is over $32,000 then I would go to the SSDI office and have them take out the percentage you choose. Its something like 7%, 10% and so on. I don't know the rest of the numbers.

Myself we only went over the 32,000 limit by 700 dollars I its not even worth having them take it out. I will just pay it in at the end of the year. It will just minus what I will receive is all how it works.

If you need more help on this let me know. All the information is all on the internet by using google and asking the correct question.