SemperFiSgt

I wish I had of had this site before my EAS in 2004. I was able to get a little from a few people but not as much as I have learned in the past few years and months on here. Just as stated above, get buddies contact info (email addresses rarely change), dates of injuries and no matter how small it seems have every injury noted for records. YOU WILL NEED IT SERIOUSLY... The VA is only ok at times but, a real bully most of the times!! SemperFiSgt

Yes, NavyWife it was for PTSD. Do you think I should add the migraines and everything else I was denied with my separation exam. I currently have 30% service connected.

Should I go back to my doctor at the VA or I guess what I'm asking, where do I find a PhD level Psychologist or a Psychiatrist? I really want to have all of my paperwork ready before submitting anything. My issues aren't going away and I need to have as much done before I really lose it. I'm having more intense and serious anxiety attacks. My stressor is combat related. One of my Marines died from mortar attacks in Iraq. This site has helped me a great deal and I pray that I can get the ball rolling so I can find a way to give back for it and the assistance I have received,

63SIERRA, I went into the Trauma Recovery Program and there was multiple people there. It was documented on MyHealthVet as 17 attendees. They had 5 others that assisted with seeing all 17 veterans. The intern asked the questions then after he got all the information down, she came in and we went back over the whole thing. Why the dates where different I can't answer. I do remember after leaving I was called via telephone, being asked if the alcohol consume was right due to the fact I had went into a program to rule out alcohol abuse. I just want to make sure I have the proper person dx before filing my claim. I hate having to deal with this PTSD and then having to blow up on people that try to help me. A lot of times I can't help it my patience runs slow and PTSD doesn't make it any better. Just the other day, I went off on my wife and it took for her to leave for a few hours. It has gotten worst. Thank GOD she understand that its not me but the condition. I can tell she is getting tired of it though. Thanks for taking time to respond.

Can someone help me figure out if any of the people listed with job titles can be able to be used a creditable diagnosing person? These are the notes posted inside MyHealthVet. /es/ REGINALD RIGGINS PSYCHOLOGY INTERN Signed: 12/23/2014 14:40 /es/ MILLE C. ASTIN PhD Clinical Psychologist Cosigned: 12/24/2014 10:07 12/24/2014 ADDENDUM I supervised this TRP intake and met with the patient myself. I concur with this evaluation note and treatment plan with the the exception that Diagnoses should include rule out Alcohol Use Disorder given the quantity binges on. /es/ MILLE C. ASTIN, PhD Clinical Psychologist Signed: 12/24/2014 10:08 STATUS: COMPLETED Her business card is an actual VAMC card. Her official title states Staff Psychologist, Trauma Recovery Program Thanks in Advance

Berta, Thanks for the responses and the wonderful job you and others do here on hadit.com. This site is very helpful and full of information and great people that will help you if needed from what I have seen. I will be looking into the MH provider. I have done a great job tackling this whole PTSD I think but, some days are just tough. I hope I can answer the parts I may left out or wasn't clear on a little clear this time my mind has been all over the place today but overall ok. What is the 30% for? Has that disability gotten worse since they awarded the 30%? My 30% is from when I ended my service from the Marines in 2004. It was service connected for my knees, tinea corporis and back spasms. I was denied for my migraines. They have gotten worst in my eyes especially my knees, you can walk beside me and hear them pop while I walk loudly. I'm not sure of what you were asking here, "Dod uyou have a vet rep on the 30% decision as your POA?" If you were asking if i had a rep for that claim, no. That came from my Separation Exam before end of service. I was told by the Mental Health doctor at the VA that the STAR program was to out rule any concerns of depression and that I needed to confirm that there was no dug or alcohol addictions to interfere his diagnosis and it was recommended by the trauma center. They quickly saw me and told me what I knew wasn't the issue. I don't hardly have time to really have drinks and when I do it can't be no more than 2 drinks maybe 2 a month. My cigars did increase but they were concern about drinks and illegal substances I was told. My wife constantly tells me that the dreams and irregular sleep patterns and etc was taking a toll and I was forced to go to the trauma center on the Tuesday I mentioned. Immediately there was a question from someone that was coming in and they asked if there would be someone to deal with claims there. I will have to check my documents to see what title was the person that stated that it was in fact PTSD. There classes from what I was told is suppose to help me understand the condition and ways of copping from my understanding but again, i would have to check. I was given papers but to be honest my wife was at work and I went alone. I had a rough night at work and already was edgy that day as well. I try not to lash out any attacks on people and do a fair job at managing it. Although, i have had a few mishaps at work that resulted in counseling. No advice was given from them for anything concerning a claim. "I was then a patient that the VA wanted to class as depressed."Without ruling in or out PTSD? This came from my health care provider the first time I started to open up and mention my true state with anyone besides my wife. No one knew at this point because, I hate being around a lot of people and my VA center is a hub for Atlanta Veterans. The site and thought of my fellow military brethren from war and previous wars that have served in pain and suffering. Its like we get no sort of real assistance. Like the world wants us to just go away. Sorry... You are a combat vet....you dont need PTSD classes, you need PTSD help from a real VA shrink. Should I look for a VA psychiatrist/ psychologist on my own or request through my VA Medical Center? I find them not so helpful at times but I want to get better before worst so really humbling myself as much as possible. I'm trying to do my part before it gets out of reach or manageable. THANKS AGAIN SO MUCH BERTA.... I went home and found information and notes posted on MyHealthVet. Can I PM it to you? It's a lot of stuff.

Greetings to all.... I had always been a very outgoing type of guy and until maybe 4 years now. Life has slowly taken a resurface into war again. My military career has found it's way back to me and is really affecting me in various ways. I'm having issues at home sometimes with my family and friends, flashbacks, hearing noises and almost all of the attacks I endured in Al Asad, Iraq from Feb to Late Oct 2004. It's like I re-live the mortar attacks constantly and really coping with losing a dear friend and Marine whom I had gotten very close with during his time attached to my unit. Nothing I tried to help me get back to normal was successful. I tried going out to clubs, to increased drinking, and picked up smoking cigars heavily. No matter what it was I still slowly began to get hit with it more and more. I started to work more to see if I could help ease a little by staying busy. Sleeping was now not a word in my vocabulary. The most I could get in a day was 4 hours maybe but that was still hard to maintain mostly. To this day now for at least the last past 4 months gradually, the flashbacks, hallucinations, lack of focus while at work sometimes, anxiety attacks, always on the alert as if something bad is going to happen at the next second, jumpy, up most hate going to the stores and dislike of crowds and people. I wake up in cold sweats like i have been swimming, severe migraines at least 4 a week, and very bad anger periods are just a few things I have to deal with. I only leave my apartment now just to go to work, appointments, and have to be with my wife who is my only friend now to get groceries or shop now. She evens gets tired of me at times but, kind of understands more of what is going on since I recently open up about some of my military career and things I face at a doctors appointment when I stated, "I wish I could just go away and no one would know." I was then a patient that the VA wanted to class as depressed. They sent me to this program called STAR and set me an appointment with a mental health doctor. The mental health doctor told me that he wanted me to been seen at the trauma center and from there some progress could be made. I felt like I was being jerked around because, my initial doctor gave me some medicine to help me sleep and to cover the migraines but, as I took them I told him they weren't working. He told me that he would up the mg dosage and he did. I take them but, to this day, it affects me at work because I have to drive 30 mins just to get to work fast due to oversleeping. I went to the point of no return when I found myself contemplating about the suicide thoughts again. That was when my wife made me go to the trauma center Tuesday. I went there and they stated in fact that they don't work with claims but, diagnosed me with PTSD. I was signed up for PTSD 101 classes and given information for people to call when I needed to talk. Did anyone else go through this process and at what point did you start a claim for PTSD. I'm a Public Safety Supervisor and kind of afraid that either one day I will be fired or lose my job due to this behavior. I have already had a few complaints against me that I was overly aggressive and used vulgar language inappropriately. Thanks for reading and hopefully I didn't type too much. Thanks in advance for any responses. SemperFiSgt