the_stretcher

Thank you for your information. I see my doctor on the 1st of August so i will be bringing up whats been going on to her. I have been getting shots in my back for the pain that is being caused to my legs. I have lost a lot of flexibility due to my L5 S1 disc being herniated. So overall i do have a leg to stand on... Pun intended... to put a claim in for damages due to herniated and pretty much destroyed disc. Once again thank you. Is there anything that i should do to make this claim have a heavy stand in the process. I would prefer an easy battle with the VA this time around.

So there I was doing my normal work at my job and POP, there goes my back. I heard and felt a popping sound and immediately pain went down the back of my legs and up to my shoulder blades. To make my long story short, this happened beginning of last year. I have since been to the Emergency room and to see my doctor for pain medication “I got Vicodin" and they scheduled me for four injections in my back. The injections helped ease the pain in my back... "Like they ever fully work" but to this day I am still in pain and my legs are totally jacked up. My hamstring always feels like I have a needle poking them, my calves are always tight. I stretch every single day and have been doing so for months. Ever since I got out of the military "2011" and had my back injury "2005" I have always had issues with my legs doing this. Lucky enough for me, I have an appointment on the 1st of August. got in within a month of me calling. “can we say record setting time for the VA", but anyway, my question is. What would be a good course of action to take to my doctor since everything they have tried to do so far has not helped me, and I am at a loss for what I can do. Thankfully I can still walk and do light running, but the running only last for a very short period because of my back and legs. If I walk for a long period of time or run for a short period of time, my legs flare up and it sucks to walk. I am currently at a 70 percent rating and my back is part of the service connection. Should I open a claim for something like limited loss of mobility? Or does someone here have a better course of action on what type of new file I should open up for. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Best news ever. My claim has been reopened and they have received my C&P exam information. Bad news it is going to take forever for it to go back through the whole proccess again.

yes it is a pain. If i have issues i call and complain to the VA that not all of my files are available for download with the blue button. And like magic, within the next few days the infomation is available for download.

So for the denial, they denied me because i rescheduled the initial C&P exam because i was not informed of the appointment so i was forced to reschedule do to me not being able to make the appointment. The stamp date on my denial sheet shows a date from after when i rescheduled the appointment but before my appointment that got rescheduled. So to date it i had my original appointmen like 21st or 22nd august so i called them that very day to reschedule. The stamp date for my denial was august 25th. I had the second appointment on Sept 13th in which is the appointment that i was able to get to and that is how i got my C&P exam. This is my first C&P for my first claim for PTSD. I call the regional office of Ohio and they seen the huge mistake and the lady i talked to annotated in my file that my original claim would be reinstated due to a mishap from the VA. she said it would take 21 business days for it to show up on Ebenefits.com. Its been between 15-20 business days from which i called the regional office. I have a feeling that i will be calling them again to make sure everything is straightened out. I do not have a vet rep helping me out, but right now i am in the middle of changing VFW posts, so if i can not do anything i will be getting help from them.

Thank you for your response, The statements that happend with the wife can kid happened before i seen Dr. Smith and before i was taking medication. There is nothing in my record to show TBI. I am going for a PTSD rating. I did not apply for TDIU as i am currently working and have been ever since i got out of the army. During my time with Dr. Smith i had the family come along and that is what helped me get everything in perspective. I still have anger outburst but with the therapy and medication i am able to do other stuff to combat the issues when it happens. I am very thankfull for the time i spent with Dr. Smith. I have had some minor issues at work but with my boss knowing what is going on and the ability for me to take medication that also helps me. Keeping a job is big for me because i have to support my wife and 3 kids. If i did not have that i am sure I would not be able to maintain a job. It hurt me to be honest with the doctor because when ever i look back to what i did i dont like it and i never want to be like that. I put my claim in for PTSD because i have these issues and i beleive in the benefits that was faught for us current veterans. If anyone could give any guidance on if i would gain any SC from my C&P please let me know as the VA denied my claim before i was able to go to the C&P and i want to make sure that i have a good fight for this claim. Thanks P.S Berta, I was not offended by your response.

If you have a " My Health E vet " account set up you can download all of your medical data by using the blue botton. That is how i got my C&P exam information.

C&P EXAM NOTE SECTION I: ---------- 1. Diagnostic Summary --------------------- Does the Veteran have a diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to DSM-IV criteria based on today's evaluation? [X] Yes [ ] No ICD code: 309.81 2. Current Diagnoses -------------------- a. Diagnosis #1: PTSD Diagnosis #2: Depressive Disorder-NOS ICD code: 311 Indicate the Axis category: [X] Axis I [ ] Axis II Diagnosis #3: No Diagnosis ICD code: V71.09 Indicate the Axis category: [X] Axis I [ ] Axis II b. Axis III - medical diagnoses (to include TBI): Chronic Low Back Pain, Paon 　 in Joint Involving Pelvic, Region, Thigh, and Lower Leg, Overweight c. Axis IV - Psychosocial and Environmental Problems (describe, if any): Iraq War d. Axis V - Current global assessment of functioning (GAF) score: 55 3. Differentiation of symptoms ------------------------------ a. Does the Veteran have more than one mental disorder diagnosed? [X] Yes [ ] No b. Is it possible to differentiate what symptom(s) is/are attributable to each diagnosis? [ ] Yes [X] No [ ] Not applicable (N/A) If no, provide reason that it is not possible to differentiate what portion of each symptom is attributable to each diagnosis: The symptoms of these disorders overlap and any attempt to sseparate them would be mere speculation c. Does the Veteran have a diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI)? [ ] Yes [ ] No [X] Not shown in records reviewed 4. Occupational and social impairment ------------------------------------- a. Which of the following best summarizes the Veteran's level of occupational and social impairment with regards to all mental diagnoses? (Check only one) [X] Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by medication b. For the indicated level of occupational and social impairment, is it possible to differentiate what portion of the occupational and social impairment indicated above is caused by each mental disorder? [X] Yes [ ] No [ ] No other mental disorder has been diagnosed If yes, list which portion of the indicated level of occupational and social impairment is attributable to each diagnosis: The symptoms of these disorders overlap and any attempt to separate them would be mere speculation c. If a diagnosis of TBI exists, is it possible to differentiate what portion of the occupational and social impairment indicated above is caused by the TBI? [ ] Yes [ ] No [X] No diagnosis of TBI 　 SECTION II: ----------- Clinical Findings: ------------------ 1. Evidence review ------------------ a. Records reviewed (check all that apply): [X] Claims folder (C-file): [ ] Yes [X] No If no, provide reason C-file was not reviewed: VVA b. Was pertinent information from collateral sources reviewed? [ ] Yes [X] No 2. History ---------- a. Relevant Social/Marital/Family history (pre-military, military, and post-military): He was born in Lima, Ohio. He had two parents, two brothers and two sisters. His parents had problems with addictions and their parental rights were terminated when he was three years olf and he was raised by his grandparents. He graduated fro high school in 2003.He joined the Army on June 12, 2003. He did BT at Ft. Benning and AIT at Ft. Gordon. He served in Iraq from November 2005 until November 2006. He got an honorable discharge on March 20, 2011. He got married on October 7, 2005. He has two daughters and one son. b. Relevant Occupational and Educational history (pre-military, military, and post-military): He worked at a fast food restaurant in high school. His MOS was 25U-Signal Support Signal Specialist. He has worked at Wright-Patterson AFB as a contractor for two years. c. Relevant Mental Health history, to include prescribed medications and family mental health (pre-military, military, and post-military): He saw Dr. Smith in the PTSD program at the DVAMC for about six months for therapy. He is prescribed Prozac-20mg daily by his PCP. No psychiatric inpatient hospitalizations. d. Relevant Legal and Behavioral history (pre-military, military, and post-military): No legal issues e. Relevant Substance abuse history (pre-military, military, and post-military): No Substance Abuse issues f. Sentinel Event(s) (other than stressors): No response provided. g. Other, if any: No response provided. 3. Stressors ------------ a. Stressor #1: Mortar attacks in Ramidi, Iraq in February 2006 Does this stressor meet Criterion A (i.e., is it adequate to support the diagnosis of PTSD)? [X] Yes [ ] No 　 Is the stressor related to the Veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist activity? [X] Yes [ ] No 4. PTSD Diagnostic Criteria --------------------------- a. Please check criteria used for establishing the current PTSD diagnosis. 　 The diagnostic criteria for PTSD, referred to as Criteria A-F, are from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). Criterion A: The Veteran has been exposed to a traumatic event where both of the following were present: [X] The Veteran experienced, witnessed or was confronted with an event that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others. [X] The Veteran's response involved intense fear, helplessness or horror. Criterion B: The traumatic event is persistently reexperienced in 1 or more of the following ways: [X] Recurrent and distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts or perceptions [X] Recurrent distressing dreams of the event [X] Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring; this includes a sense of reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations and dissociative flashback episodes, including those that occur on awakening or when intoxicated 　 Criterion C: Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness (not present before trauma), as indicated by 3 or more of the following: [X] Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations associated with the trauma [X] Efforts to avoid activities, places or people that arouse recollections of the trauma [X] Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities [X] Feeling of detachment or estrangement from others Criterion D: Persistent symptoms of increased arousal, not present before the trauma, as indicated by 2 or more of the following: [X] Difficulty falling or staying asleep [X] Irritability or outbursts of anger [X] Difficulty concentrating [X] Hypervigilance [X] Exaggerated startle response\ Criterion E: [X] The duration of the symptoms described above in Criteria B, C and is more than 1 month. Criterion F: [X] The PTSD symptoms described above cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. b. Which stressor(s) contributed to the Veterans PTSD diagnosis?: [X] Stressor #1 5. Symptoms ----------- For VA rating purposes, check all symptoms that apply to the Veterans diagnoses: [X] Depressed mood [X] Anxiety [X] Suspiciousness [X] Chronic sleep impairment [X] Flattened affect 6. Other symptoms ----------------- Does the Veteran have any other symptoms attributable to PTSD (and other mental disorders) that are not listed above? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, describe: Anger issues-he ripped a door off its hinges at home last week because it was not opening, shoves his wife by the shoulders during arguments, yells at his wife, picks the locks to door to get to his wife, grabbed his daughter (5) by the arm and spanked her hard and threw her on the mattress in the living room 7. Competency ------------- Is the Veteran capable of managing his or her financial affairs? [X] Yes [ ] No 8. Remarks, if any ------------------ The veteran meets DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD related to his claimed stressor. His claimed stressor is related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. His Depressive Disorder-NOS is related to his PTSD. His PTSD does not prevent him from being able to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

Free_Spirit_etc, Thanks for the advise. I plan on writing the regional office to express how everything is going. I will also be going to my local VA and pick up a copy of the C&P exam.

Yes i went to the second one. i verified from my local va that the information was sent to regional office. thr regional office seen that i wnt to the appointment that is why it was noted by the va rep at the regional VA that i went to the appointment and that my claim will be re-opened. If i do not see anything i will be going to get my paperwork from comp and pen and going to talk to my local VFW

philip the VA rep repeated what was talked about word for word which was written under my file

I am having some issues with my claim. I had an appointment with Comp and Pen. I had to reshedule my appointment and a week before my new appointment i got the infamous later from the VA. It showed that i got denied my PTSD claim due to me not showing up to my appointment. Problem is i had an appointment set up. My local VA in Dayton Ohio can not do anything. I have called the regional office and the lady said she was going to get my claim started back up and i have not seen anything. I called the regional office 2 weeks ago. I am going to give them the rest of this week do see about anything and i am going to have to call the regional office again. Is calling them the only thing i can do to get my claim reinstated or am i going to be forced to do a rebuttle?