john999

If you are working and have a GAF of 60 then 50% for PTSD is a pretty good rating. I don't think you were cheated. I had a GAF of 55 and was DX'ed with bipolar and I got 30%. I was working. When I was no longer able to work I got a GAF of 45 and a rating of 70%. I had to file an appeal to get TDIU even though I was on SSDI. Working if the big divider when it comes to mental health issues. As long as you can work a full time job you won't get 100%. It is even hard to get above 50%.

If one of your ratings is not at least 40% the VA will give you a technical struggle for TDIU. If you cannot work due solely to SC conditions you are eligible to file for TDIU.

There is nothing presumptive for him. You would have to prove a link yourself via medical evidence.

Are you able to work? That is the main difference between 70%-100% for PTSD and 50%. I would think moderate to severe would be 70%, but what was your GAF and do you work?

If you start the ball rolling for medical retirement you have to file for SSDI as well under FERS. FERS pays such a small amount you will sure need the TDIU. SSDI requires that you be unemployed from gainful employment for six months before you get benefits. If you could somehow get TDIU I sure would take it. It is probably more than your FERS and SSDI together. I got FERS, SSDI and then TDIU but it took over a year. There is a lot of slack in the disability programs. A person could starve waiting on all three.

I think I would try doing what Seth says and then fall back and follow Phil's advice. He does not want a PD dx to go into his records because the VA will jump on this to attempt to deny compensation for other mental health conditions. If he is a short timer I can't see why his command would want him to take LTH discharge other than to avoid paying benefits. PTST can look sort of like a PD but his history of injury and dx'ed PTSD should preclude that unless the army is playing the game Phil is talking about. I would spend the money on a lawyer even if you have to send him the cash to pay.

If you are a disabled vet the VA has to treat you.

He should be getting help in the form of treatment at military mental health. Unless he is getting Article 15's or being a discipline problem I don't see how or why the army would give him general discharge or LTH discharge. His exit physical will be important. He needs to really point out his problems both physical and mental. As long as he shows up for formations on time and does his job for the next few months until ETS he should get honorable discharge. I wonder why he never got medical discharge? He needs to apply for disability now while he is still in service from what I hear of new methods the VA and military are using. The Army may be trying to just get rid of him with hopes of never having to pay a dime themselves.

Captain In my experience most regular PCP's will never make the AO connection for vets with PN. They don't even ask about it. You have to bring up the possible connection between PN and DMII often times. I told the doctors I believed my PN was connected to my DMII. They never made the connection until I pointed it out. This was true with my heart as well. I filed on it and asked my then PCP to connect my symptoms with DMII and AO. If you have some cancer your VA doctor is the last person to make the AO connection. John

The VA was very tricky with my PN. A doctor DX'ed PN in my upper arms during AO exam. This was before I was DX'ed with DMII due to AO. The VA denied the PN in my upper arms saying it came before the DMII so no connection. I had PN in my feet after DX of DMII so I got that connected. On appeal I got the upper PN SC'ed. The VA played games with me and the PN helped me lose my job. I worked for the Post Office and had PN in my upper and lower limbs. The pain got so bad I just could not do any of that work, so out the door I went. John

Whymista You are wrong about depression not having some psychotic symtoms. Many severely depressed people have delusions of sin and worthlessness. They may also believe they are being punished by God. They may stop eating. I have been in psychotherapy for 40 years. I have seen many depressed people. I have known people with severe bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and all the rest. When people are no longer in contact with reality to the extent they may be a harm to themselves or others and cannot care for themselves that is psychosis. A lot of these disorders sort of bleed into each other. A vet with PTSD may also be psychotically depressed to the extent he/she may attempt suicide. There are not hard and fast rules about this stuff.

11 months to do an AO claim is a long time if the facts are not in dispute. It is good to hear you won, however. Now ask for an increase as soon as you get some more evidence.

The idea that the VBA is non-adversarial is a cynical joke. The VBA wants to hold onto that government money just as long as possible, and they have every incentive to do it. If your claim is on appeal for ten years and you finally win you get no interest. Your retro is paid with cheaper dollars. Go to half a dozen c&p exams and you will know the system is adversarial. The VA does have an obligation to list all evidence used in a decision and to explain why other evidence was not used. This may not have always been the case, but in cases where certain evidence is so important that it would on its own decide a claim it has to be considered.

Major Depressive Disorder is a psychotic disorder since it is a major mental disorder and incapacitates people. People who are severely depressed may hear voices. They may have delusions. They may have hallucinations. They may attempt suicide. A neurotic depression ( non-psychotic) is the one that is treated by a dose of prozac and the person gets back in the swing of things. Major depressions can last for months and can put a person flat on their back. Major depressives often abuse alcohol and may kill themselves by accident by mixing pills and alcohol. The person who reacts to some upset by staying in bed for three months has a major depression. The bipolar person often may go from a major depression to mania. They can be psychotic during depressed state or manic state. It can be a fine line according to some VA doctor but I have know quite a few very depressed people, and you know it when you see it and hear it. John

No, I don't think so since they are different disorders.

The VA realizes that once they approve you for TDIU that you will never work again. Do you have SSD? I had SSD for SC condition and 70% from VA and they still turned me down the first time for TDIU. I got me the required IME/IMO and got my TDIU. Then I had to get another IMO to get P&T. They just fight all the way sometimes.

I think only a lawyer can answer those questions. I have some of my own questions as well.

Right, Richard, the form I sent just got lost in the mail during Christmas rush. I take measures for such events but it does piss me off a bit. I got to call the pharmacy Thursday and make sure I can come for window pick-up. My doctor cooperated and opiate nurse cooperated (with usual suspicion) so I should get them. Like I say I can get the meds from the 1st of the month through the 13th of the month. If I get them on the first one month and the 13th the next month I am getting shorted. This happens all the time. John

They may not deny it but you need to think about your percentage rating. If you can't work due to MDD then you should apply for TDIU. MDD is on the scale of a psychotic disorder, so you should get at least 30%. If you have recently attempted suicide it would be more (not to encourage you). What meds do you take? What are your major symptoms? You may need an IMO/IME at some point if they low ball you. I had the DX of bipolar disorder and then MDD later on, so what matters is how the disorder affects your ability to socialize and work. John

I agree with John that moving mid-claim is a bad idea. If he is coming to Florida for work stay home. The wages here are very low and there is a pipe line of homeless and poor that come here in winter. Florida provides almost nothing in terms of care for single indigent. Even in snow you are better off in Jersey in fixed abode. The VA has screwed up my address in Florida and I have lived here all my life.

The last post on this subject was 2011. Bring us up to date, Kimmy.

You might just accept the meds and then make up your own mind about taking them. The VA thinks that a person is not really ill, sick or suffering unless they are on meds. They think meds cure everything including the problems that meds cause. I used to be on three pages of meds. I did cut it down ot about a page and a half. John

Thanks Captain. I am 63 and feel it every morning when I finally wake up and try and get out of bed. Where are these golden years I read about? I read today in obits about a 57 year old Vietnam vet, and I could not figure out how he could be that young, but he was a Marine so maybe he was at an embassy. Two dead RVN vets in the obits today. Now I read the obits. I see people younger than me and people much older. The Addreall I took to stay awake is sort of driving me crazy as you can tell. John

If you are having any kind of crises MH is supposed to be available to you fast. My shrink has told me often to call her if I need to and she will see me after 4pm. Call the crises line and tell them you are having thoughts of suicide or murder. That should get you in for a visit. Are you working and would you be missed if you were gone a few days? When I got fired from my last job I went directly to the VAMC and got admitted to the psychiatric ward. I was shook up, indeed. This admission helped me get an EED. John

Great News, Lady T