Andyman73

Anybody have any idea or know anything about the part of the PTSD criterion relating to derealization and or dissociation? I experienced them both during my multiple MST events...still do.

Since the VA plays the way they do, it matters not. My MST happened 20 years before DX of the sleep apnea. But because the PTSD was only DX 4 months ago...those 20 years mean nothing...only the last 2. I will talk to my sleep specialist to get their take on the whole issue.

Truth be told, eh Buck? They sure do do that!!!

@Gastone now that I have officially been DX with PTSD, and SC'd for it. Can I claim sleep apnea as secondary due to aggravation of existing condition by the ptsd? Semper Fi

If the sleep apnea is granted , Cpap use/Rx is a 50% all on its own. Hope you get it!

Hope your foot gets better soon. I think you said about a second surgery? Hope that goes well for you and a speedy recovery, too.

I'm sorry

I'm sorry

I'm sorry

So glad you're back....missed you.

I'm sorry

Got my PTSD decision letter in the mail today, date stamped on letter, June 26th! Envelope metered on July 10, WTF!?!!!? I got the letter about the life insurance on July 3rd...but the rating letter wasn't even mailed out till the 10th!!! There was no explanation or reasons and basis included!!!! WTF!!!!! Even though it clearly states that the explanation was included !!! I can't even think straight!!! I'm out!!!

Never mind Boy am I an idiot. I deleted my post because I was asking a question that didn't go with this thread. And I knew it would be ignored, due to hijacking...too late I realized it's my own thread! LOL!!! Oh well

Buck, Hey, that's about it...hanging on for the ride. Thanks again.

So far, the only officially recognized medical condition of children of Male Veterans is Spina Bifida. However, if the Vet is a Woman, exposed to AO in the authorized and accepted AO zones..that list is about 18 or so ailments.

@Buck52, I don't know if I can let it go...see...my whole life....well, the past 40 years....the abuse that happened...starting with that soldier who reported to my father...all the way up to my abusive wife...is all tied together. How can I ignore one part of it? Buck...you've been such a great friend and occasional mentor(thanks! by the way)...So much of what happened before I enlisted in the Marines is so much uglier than what happened while in the Marines. Things that will make a Combat Vet like you blush... I've tried the lawyer route so many times...but they only see $...never see me. I'm not worth the time to them. As for kids...wife's in charge, not allowed to take them places unless she comes, or no go. Yeah....it's like that.

@Buck52, I'm trying to keep from "drowning". One thing I did think of is I can refile my claim for teeth grinding/jaw pain. The VARO had denied on the Basis of being a symptom of something else. And said to refile once I was dx with that "something else" . Got it now...ptsd. And according to the CFR rating charts that should be a 20% rating. Which, if nothing else, should put me close to the edge of the next step to 100%. I can't remember where I was at before. So at least that is one positive takeaway from this. I hope you don't think too poorly of me Buck...I'm sorry if it seems like I'm going out of my mind or out of control....truth is...I'm just a step away from losing it completely and giving up. I don't want to, but when you've maxed out, what's left? When you've reached your limit....what happens then? I feel like I'm running on empty and living on borrowed time.

@broncovet, I actually have not gotten the decision letter yet. Did get either 3 months retro, because is dated 03/29/17..., or 2 months and the bump up. First deposit was for 2 months retro, then on Friday got the previous comp rate amount. Then yesterday got either the 3rd month retro amount or bump amount. In the mail I got the life insurance mailer, but not the decision letter. My disability list on EBenefits showed ptsd due to personal assault 50%...which is how I know they totally disregarded the SI. My VA MH dr knows all about it. The C&P examiner was told about it. In fact he asked me at the end of the exam how I felt, told him I felt like jumping through his plate glass window of his 3rd floor office. When my MH dr told me it was 50%, because he checked and told me before I had checked out from the MH clinic. I asked him about why not 70? Told him they must not have considered the SI. He told me that they would have considered it, but they take everything in to account before they rate. Then I said SI is in the 70 and 100 rating blocks. And they should have given me the 70. He said at least it's the 50, and to appeal the rating. Yeah...they didn't consider it. Bronco...what that Marine was telling is the way they treated us at Boot Camp...everything was "this recruit this" and "that recruit that". No I or me or we. But thank you for that advice...I will definitely have to be sure to refer to myself as "the Veteran". Once I get the letter then we'll see what's what. It's hard to not take it personally, when they've systematically denied nearly all of my claims due to one thing or another that I can't cover. I can't pay for IMO/IME. And the few VA doctors I see won't come out and say what the dx is for what they're treating me for. I can't imagine why dealing with the VA grinder would be like with out ptsd....but that's all I've ever known. And it has had me at the ragged edge of sanity for years. Some may say for me to step back and relax and be glad for what I got. Easy for them to say, not having walked one step in my shoes. I hate that this happened to me. I hate that my wife has abused me in almost every single way under the tenets of domestic violence...physical, emotional, mental, sexual...in many ways. I hate that before her I have been physically assaulted, sexually assaulted, life threatened verbally and implied, I hate that I had a switchblade at my throat at age 7 that did draw blood. And all the other stuff even worse than that. I hate that the very first one was a soldier that worked for my Dad in Germany. I was just about 3 years old. I hate that I couldn't speak up when that predator got me, while I was in the Marines..because that would have been sentencing myself to a fate worse than death. I hate that when I got caught trying to cut my wrists at work...all I got was a talking to...the Marines didn't care...because it was much easier to ignore me. I hate what it has done to me. And I hate that my whole life is one big fat lie. And I hate that I failed at stopping the pain.

@broncovet, I only attempted it 7 times...only. I spent 3 days in a coma on the floor of my room in the barracks...the result of a pint of Jack chugged inside a minute. That was my most successful try. The first time was after I was coerced by an older woman into servicing her needs with promise of a great deal on a truck she had for sale. According to Federal regulations this qualifies as sexual assault by coercion, promise of favors. The next 5 times were after the predator groomed and assaulted me the first time and the second time. The last and final time....so far...was the night after I was attacked by a drunk female sailor. But none of that mattered....they believe the MST was real, granted 50% for it, but not the SI, so no 70%

Meaning I know what I told my therapist over the past 2 years and what I told the examiner...which should have gotten me a 70% rating. But they gave me 50%, so false hope. Just like when that Marine caught me in the act. No proof that ever happened. My division chief made no record, he was a Marine Captain. He sent me to see the base Chaplain, a Marine Colonel...who also made no record of it. And no psych eval or anything. This is just like that!!! Once again, the most serious symptoms are ignored and I am yet again feeling invisible and ignored.

So then, suicide ideation is just false hope???