grove12345

Thanks for the feed back. To get any useful info through official channels is next to impossible. So I can use all the help I can get. Well I was placed on Ritalin and I wanted to move up to adderall for my depression/ADD. My psychiatrist doesnt have a problem giving it to me, but there are sooo many stages I had to go through before even reaching that level. Basically I had to take then reject about 4 different Rx. And once I do get it, I have to see my psychiatrist once a month. Doesnt sound bad (1x a month) but if I miss or they decide to reschedule the appointment I might have to wait another 2-5 weeks for a time slot that is probably right in the middle of the work day. Then on top of that I might have to make appointments to see a shrink (maybe 4 week wait) Im pretty sure I mentioned about 5xs, to my psych, that I cant make it to the appointments the VA sets due to my new job. No one ever mentioned fee based option. Are you saying the FMLA can help me with finding the right doctors and get covered treatments? Thanks for all the help guys. God bless.

well I was thinking of seeing a private psychiatrist and/or shrink. I just started a new job and the VA wont give me certain meds unless I go once every month. Which is kind of hard for me to keep to as opposed to a private doctor who can just write me up whenever I call. Basically less hoops to jump through. What is this "fee based" thing you bring up? Also can VetCenters see me on weekends or write me prescriptions? Thanks guys for any help.

Let me share a bit first about my VA experience. Iraqi war veteran 05-07. Got out of the military in 08. Depression and ADD started to kick severally in around 2011. I was about 29 at the time, a full grown adult. Started going to the VA for treatment. I was just getting worse and worse over the years. Talked to my ex squad leader, suggested my behavior was linked to PTSD. Turns out half my platoon was diagnosed with PTSD (we had a really rough tour) and he suggested I go get help for it. Now in my 3+ years of going to the VA for depression and anti social issues, NOT ONE doctor asked about my dramatic experiences (and boy did I have a lot). From psychiatrist to psychologist it seemed that they all steered away from asking about the war. So I wrote to C&P, wrote them a nice gruesome letter. Got an appointment set in about a few months. In the meantime I figured I would get more evidence. Went to the VA PTSD clinic in Miami. Spoke to a social worker (who again never once asked about my traumatic experiences), all she wanted to know was if I was a danger to myself or others. Since I wasnt I got denied PTSD diagnoses. DAMN. I just screwed myself. Still had my CP appointment set, thought for sure I was a done for. So I started off strong. I told her ALL my experiences for the first time since going to the VA, in full detail. She was a bit blown back by it all. Said most PTSD patients didnt experience a fraction of that, and my detailed memory was a good indication of PTSD. In the end I got 50% disability for Depression (not PTSD) and 10% due to knee. I honestly do not want to ever deal with the VA again. I want to see help (depression and PTSD) through a private doctor. My only concern is Im sure in order to maintain my compensation I must present evidence of ongoing treatement. How do I present that evidence if I am getting help outside the system?