IconicX

I am going through a review. I am nervous as heck. I was homeless before getting my benefits. In 2009 I went into a VA homeless per diem program and stumbled on that I had a possible service connected disability. And I was awarded it in 2010. I was 52 at the time. Pure luck knowing about it and I had a really decent pyschiatrist and counselor. Why hadn't I sought this option before? Someone told me when I was in the Army that post Vietnam vets (i served 1976-80) didn't have medical benefits and I believed them and never inquired about them for myself at the VA. (I know now… not very smart.) The upcoming review is very stressful and stress triggers my symptoms. I am obsessing on being homeless again even though the review is (as far as I can figure) a normal request... my paranoia and anxiety is off the charts. I have been reading and things should be fine. Even though VA does some outlandish stuff I have stayed in treatment and have a paper trail of that. My highest and last GAF was 51and that was done in the States. (I have been living in Thailand.) But I just keep having these conspiracy thoughts and feelings. (Yes I am taking my meds.) I have found what works for me under stress like this is to try to stay rational and use sane and real information to combat my voices, thoughts and feelings. I came across in my research info about the 'claims file' and how we should under the freedom of information act have access to our own C Files. But it is hard to get. VA don't want you to have this info. My questions are …"Do my VSO have computerized access to my Claims File?" The other is... "Do my VSO work for the VA?" I ask this because their email ends with VA.gov.

This is the info that I needed. Thank you.

Thanks Waccamawwild I too think it is a good idea to have her come to the c&p review and also write a statement and hand the statement to the c&p examiner at the review, and to then send a copy to the regional office that requested the review. especially after reading broncovet reply above. Thank you for your reply. It really helps.

Ok. I am in the midst of a review. The actual review with the doctor is this Friday. In 2010 at 52 I was awarded 100% disability due to a service connected mental disorder (Non-PSTD.) I live in Thailand and have for over 4 years. I am soon to be 59 and have a Thai GF of three years that lives with me. She knows me. She has seen me at my most intimate times. She knows how my very real disability manifests in my daily life. I am not talking about small stuff like just being moody. But how sometimes I am in bed all day and or walking around the house, dealing with voices, thoughts and feelings…. struggling with my disease. How I hardly leave the house and don't hangout with any friends or talk to anyone. I have been in continuous treatment in Thailand for my disorder. I have been seeing the psychiatrist every three months and receiving meds for the complete time I have been here and this is documented by my paper trail with the FMP (Foreign Medical Program) because they have approved the treatment and pay for them. The hospital and psychiatrist are international approved and accredited in the U.S. When I found out that VA wanted me to have a review examination I got my medical files from the hospital and i looked at them and found out that my doctor had just written on them that I was being treated for my disorder and that I appeared stable. This is my fault as I never really got into my situation with him in detail. Maybe I should have. Hind sight is 20/20. But dealing with feelings of such worthlessness because of my disorder I am used to down playing or masking over my disability symptoms. The reviewing psychiatrist just happens to be my regular doctor. He is one of the few Thai psychiatrists that is qualified to do the review exam and has done quite a few and is in the VA system as being qualified for they have accepted his review of other vets. I plan to ask him to interview my Thai GF. I think he will. Because I am going to make sure he understands my daily life and symptoms. I am confident that he will see that I am not making stuff up and that she is sincere and telling him the truth. My motivation for treatment was to continue my medication which helps but doesn't cure my disorder. For the four years he has been my doctor I have showed up probably looking not to bad. (My Thai GF really takes good care of me.) But now it is important that he understands the real truth of my disorder and my day to day struggle, my limitations and disability. I don't think there is any problem with that. And being a Thai himself I am sure he will see her sincerity and honesty. My question to the forum is…. "Would it be valuable to have her to write something for the VA as supporting evidence?" She can just tell the VA what she have seen over the last 3 years regarding my day to day struggles with my disorder. Would the VA accept this as evidence considering she is a Thai national? How would I present this evidence to them? Also I am rated as 100% but not Total and Permanent. Actually I am conflicted about T&P and don't want to accept that label right now. But a part of me knows that that is probably the true state of affairs. Does anyone have ideas about 100% VS 100% P&T? Some people say that they might give it to me after this review anyway and I don't need to request it. Thanks.

Iraqx2 I really want to be able to retire to Thailand. But being prepared for the re-evaluation in three years weighs on me. I know I need to have a paper trail that I am still in treatment. I am thinking about coming back every four months for a few weeks for an appointment with my case worker and my psychiatrist. I think I can set that up. But what seem even better is the FMP program. It is for veterans residing abroad. It will pay for my SC treatment so I could probably afford a psychiatrist that would be "willing to play ball" ie. willing to get regular fees for regular counseling and updating my prescriptions and continuing to support my claim of being disabled and incapable of making a reasonable living. (Which I am.) but we know with the VA it is about perception and documentation. So I think this might work for me. And in three years when I am re-examined I won't have a hole in my treatment and meds. But I will have continuous documentation and supportive report from an accredited Thai pysch. Here is the link to FMP. I don't know if that helps your situation. I think it does mine. The heck with getting P and T now. Maybe after my re-evaluation in three years VA will give it to me. I am leaving for Thailand Oct. 4, I thought for 3 months, but I will check into this and try to find a pysch while there and I might stay there indefinately if everything works out all right. http://www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/fmp/fmp.asp

What are the benefits of being rated P and T over just being 100 % SC. I want to know if it is worth the fight. I am scheduled for another exam in three years. Should I just wait for that? I feel if I didn't have a scheduled Exam I could move to Thailand. But I am hesitant because I might not be able to be treated there or have documentation that VA deem valid of my continued SC disability of mental/mood disorder. Any ideas? Feedback?

It seem to me you already have 100 % SC. You have your award. You are SC. You are just in treatment right now and you are afraid that they might take away your award based on that your disability is not SC but pre-existing? If you have a busybody pysch he could advocate for you to be re-examined and try to take your SC away from you. Do you think he is like that? If you prove to him beyond a shadow of a doubt through telling your history of multiple episodes of mental illness before service he won't have to be a busybody but you will be handing the case over to him wrapped in a red ribbon. I would cool it on the overly truth telling stuff and comfortable confessions and make sure that my symptoms (except for this admitted incident) nicely manifests itself in service and afterward. It is ok to have a childhood so rough that you want to opt out of life. But hopefully you are telling him that you first started to hear voices and stuff like that while you were in service. And please don't say that you were officially diagnosed before service. (Unless of course it is true. Wink! Wink! And if so............ bye bye bennies.) Man up. Be smart. The pysch is not your friend. If you really need someone to talk over some of this stuff that is bothering you and it points to pre-existing conditions get counseling on your own dime outside of the VA system. My philosophy is that it is better to be smart than homeless.

I am 100% SC based on a mental/mood disorder. I won my award 2 years ago. At that time it was stated in a letter sent to me that I would be re-evaluated in 5 years. I have stayed in treatment these past two years through the VA. I am prescribed three psychotropic meds for my mental/mood disorder that I get also through the VA. A fellow SC disabled vet and friend and I have decided to retire to Thailand at the same time. I don't want to jeopardize my SC comp benefits in the up coming Comp and Pen exam in three years through not appearing to be in treatment and on meds. I plan on seeing a pysch in Thailand as I need my meds. Will I be able to use this medical evidence from Thailand as proof of my continuing disability? What should I expect at this exam? I am 54 now and should be 57 at the time of the C and P. Are there any suggestions on how to be prepared considering I mostly will be in Thailand. Will I get my P and T rating at that time if all goes well and have no future exams? My friend that is going there with me he got his 100% SC for PTSD a few months ago and was sent a letter (not the award letter but after) stating that VA now considers him P and T and is scheduled for no other future exams. I hear that that is because he was over 55 when he was rated. Is this true? I know I am asking a few different questions but I think they are related to Comp and Pen exams. I don't want to do anything by moving to Thailand that would foolishly effect my benefits because I really need them as I can not work. And as we know documentation and perception from the examiner's viewpoint is everything. Any ideas, input, suggestions, cautions, warning of pitfalls, or anything that comes to mind that can inform my decision will be appreciated.

Thanks. It makes sense the way you explain it.

Exactly. SMC. They meet the SMC criteria as outlined in 38 USC 1114.

Thanks for your reply. I believe that a person can get multiple ratings for different conditions that can add up to a total of over 100% all together. Isn't that true? A veteran can be 100% PTSD and have physical disabilities that are SC too and rated at different % and the total being more than 100%. I think that is why a lot of Veterans believe that they are 130 % or 160%. But does that entitles them for more money or SMC? ( Basser please chime in if you like?)

I have a friend who insists that you get more money if you go over 100% SC. First I hear you CAN be rated at more than 100% SC disabled. Is this true? But most importantly, isn't the max amount of monetary benefits we can receive is what is listed in the 100% SC schedule? I know 100% SC veterans can receive different amounts based on marital status and dependents. I am not talking about that. What I am talking about is being rated as (for instance) 130% SC and getting more money than a 100% SC vet just because of that, marital status and dependents excluded. He believes he has met some one like this. Any clarity on this will save our friendship. (LOL)