jereljenkins

okay. thanks. I am new to this forum and only covered our address. Im sorry

Thank you for your reply. The therapist who wrote the letter above told us that she diagnosed him with PTSD. After his 4th meeting with her is when she diagnosed him. I was under the impression that that's what that letter was. She told us that she sent his diagnosis to the VA and that she was mailing him something. That letter above is what she mailed to us. Im assuming that is what she sent to them as well. In all the VA notes, it list and talks about his diagnosis from the vet center. But they have mentioned nothing about his stressors. Im about to upload the pages now. All it says is they see he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, a place where a fear of hostile takeover is likely. But it never specifically list his stressors or ask about it. I will upload one at a time so it wont get mixed up. I will also do the treatment notes. Thank you for your help. I really understand what you mean. Since he dictated it, I will remove everything that mentions me and type it as he stated, as if he was actually typing it. and he will sign.

The decision pages are all messed up. When I get more time, I will add those and the treatment notes. Probably tomorrow night or Saturday morning. I'm not sure if this is wise, but I also made Jerel an appointment with a civilian therapist as well. That appointment is tomorrow. The VA Hospital appointment is on the 23rd.

Sorry. I just realized its not in correct order and some are upside down. I am about to edit and add again.

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I am pretty good on the computer, and I still dont see how to add pics. When I click on "more reply options", it just opened this exact page in a different tab. I feel so lost right now. I can get your email address and send to you and post it here for me? I am sorry, I really want to post so I can get your help, but I can't figure it out. I also have the QTC exam notes as well as the denial letter that I am wanting to send.

I requested the records that was performed at the C&P exam. I could not download it, it was mailed to me. The answers to some of the questions were complete BS. Jerel didnt even have most of the test that they say he did. Yes he is registered with ebenefits. This letter dated 2/20/2015-the denial letter isn't even listed on there. The appeal status still says pending. Here is a letter that I wrote and would like to mail. I know I need help, but I just felt so bad for my husband. He feels like he was interrogated instead of someone seeking treatment(by the QTC examiner). I will copy and paste my letter HERE IT IS RE: Appeal denial of disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder FOLLOW-UP This is in reference to the decision dated 02/20/2015. This Notice of Disagreement is in reference to the denial of PTSD, Bilateral Skin Rash Hands(Both), Left Hand Condition(Pain in both), Right Hand Condition(Pain), Left Knee and Right Knee Condition(Pain) and Left Shoulder and Right Shoulder(Pain). I am the wife of Jerel Jenkins. My name is Elaudia Jenkins. Jerel Jenkins and I are in agreement with this Notice of Disagreement and Jerel Jenkins is sitting next to me as I type. He is telling me his concerns and I am typing it out. Due to that, both Jerel Jenkins and I, Elaudia Jenkins, will sign this letter. The first part of this Notice of Disagreement is about the PTSD claim. After reading the denial, Jerel Jenkins is under the impression that the denial was given based only on the report from the VA Contracted Examiner from QTC in the Atlanta area. This exam lasted no longer than 15 minutes. The examiner was rude and hostile. Jerel Jenkins felt like he was being interrogated by the FBI. Every time Jerel Jenkins would answer a question asked by the QTC Examiner, her reply would be “that doesn't mean you have PTSD”. It seems as if she was tired and had a very bad attitude. She asked me a few questions and her response to my answers was “everyone at some point gets angry, that does not mean they have PTSD.” I really felt dissatisfied with my appointment that day. Every time she asked a question pertaining to PTSD, her response to my answer was always “that does not mean you have PTSD.” Jerel Jenkins feels that if his denial is based on the results of the QTC Examiner and not that of the therapist he was seeing at the Marietta Vet Center hired by the VA, it is very unfair. Jerel Jenkins ask for reconsideration of the PTSD claim based on it seems that the QTC Examiner was trying to get a denial. Jerel Jenkins feels as if her goal was to say “Jerel does not have PTSD”. Jerel Jenkins is having a hard time dealing with and trusting anyone after this. He keeps saying “this lady interrogated me!” We ask that someone advocate for Jerel Jenkins. I am asking for the Veterans Administration to please take a second look at the decision dated 02/20/2015. Our reason for asking for this appeal is to advise you of the conduct of the QTC Examiner that the VA contracted that performed the examination of Jerel Jenkins. Also, after careful review of the Progress Notes printed on October 7, 2013, I find inconsistencies with the decision and the reasons for denial. Here are my concerns below. In the letter dated February 25, 2015, it states that a service connection for PTSD requires medical evidence diagnosing the condition in accordance with 38 CFR; a link, established by medical evidence(which I will submit with this letter), between current symptoms and an in-service stressor; and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred. It also states that if the evidence establishes that the veteran engaged in combat(which he did) with the enemy and the claimed stressor is related to that combat, in the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, and provided that the claimed stressor is consistent with the circumstances, conditions, or hardships of the veteran's service, occurrence of the claimed in-service stressor may be established by the veteran's lay testimony alone. The letter also states that if a stressor claimed by the veteran is related to the veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and a VA psychiatrist or psychologist, or a psychiatrist or psychologist with whom VA has contracted, confirms that the claimed stressor is adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD and that the veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. Here is why I am disagreeing with the decision. I have medical evidence from a VA psychologist from the Marietta Vet Center. Dr. Judith Samuels, Ph. D., LMFT has diagnosed Jerel Jenkins with PTSD. Her treatment summary indicates her concerns and recommendations. She recommends that he remains in treatment for the foreseeable future and be evaluated for psychotropic medication and unemployability because he is clearly experiencing difficulty maintaining a functional level at work. She also listed his stressors. I am including a copy of her letter. The Nursing OUTPT Triage Intake Note authored by Wilma Favors has a Clinical Reminder Activity/Plan Of Care Iraq and Afghan Post-Deployment Screen: PC PTSD. Jerel Jenkins has a positive PTSD score (PTSD 4Q) with a score of 3. Jerel also has a PHQ-2 score of positive for depression. The Progress Notes printed October 7, 2013 also has a screen For Alcohol Test. The screening test was negative. Jerel Jenkins also feels that he wasn't given many of the screening test that is listed in his file. When I asked him the same questions that is listed on these screening test, he says they never asked these questions. Jerel Jenkins has severe symptoms relating to Iraq. He often, almost every night, wakes up screaming about the “militants are trying to kill me”. He also is afraid to be around a huge group of people fearing a hostile takeover will occur. He does not interact with people outside of his normal life,i.e. Family. He does not have any friends and does not interact with coworkers unless related to work. His fear is that everyone is going to hurt him. He is very distant from our children. When the children were babies, they were actually afraid of him. He was like a stranger to them. Now that they are older, they try to interact with him, but mentally, he is not there. He has recurring disturbing memories, thoughts and images of things that happened while in Iraq. When he sees something on TV that is about a hostile military experience, he gets very upset, often times cursing at the TV and throwing objects. He will then start yelling about real experiences and upset that writers of TV shows are making fun of him. He then have panic attacks and sit in a corner facing the wall until he calms down. This happens very often. He refuses to be included in large family activities due to a fear someone may begin shooting. Jerel Jenkins, pre-military enjoyed life. He was very social and enjoyed having a good time with friends. He went out to parties every weekend before he went to Iraq. It is like he became a totally different person. Only wanting to spend his time alone in the basement with his thoughts. I, Elaudia Jenkins, often times hear him talking to himself. He talks about why did the little girl try to kill him(a memory from a very traumatic experience in Iraq). He talks about why everyone want to hurt him and often wonders if we are better off without him. Jerel Jenkins may sleep 2 to 3 hours per night. He tosses and turns all night long and wakes up sweating and yelling out in a sound I have never heard before. Jerel Jenkins also denies the note in his Progress Notes on page 22 that states the use of injection drugs. He has never used any injection drugs. Jerel Jenkins also denies that fact that they performed a rectal exam on his as stated on page 13. He denies having been given most of the exams reported on page 13. The denial letter also states that treatment records were wanted to show treatment for PTSD to cover from March 2012 through June 2012. I have provided evidence showing that Jerel Jenkins received treatment from the Marietta Vet Center beginning April 2012 pass the June 2012 periods for which you were seeking. I know that the information had a 15 day return period, but I was unable to get that information within the requested time-frame. I am now asking that you consider the evidence that clearly shows the PTSD diagnosis. It could not be accepted when received on January 17, 2014 because the decision was provisional. In the decision, one of the reasons for the denial of PTSD is due to the contracted VA examination. Jerel Jenkins was examined and as mentioned above, the QTC examiner contracted by the VA gave him a positive score for PTSD Post-Deployment. But, then it says in the decision letter dated 2/20/2015 that his diagnosis is cannabis abuse in early remission. He has not smoked marijuana since June 2009 when this diagnosis was made 3 years later. After extensive research, I found that for a diagnosis of cannabis abuse in early remission, the person(Jerel Jenkins), has to have either one of the below for that diagnosis to be true. Keep in mind that Jerel Jenkins has not smoked marijuana in 3 years at that time. To date, Jerel Jenkins is not smoking marijuana. “The following Remission specifiers can be applied only after no criteria for Dependence or Abuse have been met for at least 1 month. Note that these specifiers do no apply if the individual is on agonist therapy or in a controlled environment (see below). Early Full Remission: This specifier is used if, for at least 1 month, but for less than 12 months, no criteria for Dependence or Abuse have been met. Early Partial Remission: This specifier is used if, for at least 1 month, but less than 12 months, one or more criteria for Dependence or Abuse have been met (but the full criteria for Dependence have not been met).” This information was found at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64247/ The Progress Notes dated August 3, 2012 also states that Jerel Jenkins had a number of test. The only tests that Jerel Jenkins had was the Xrays that was done at LabCorp and Nutrition Consult at Decatur Clinic. He has no recollection of any of the tests listed on Page 10 of the Progress Notes printed on October 7, 2013. When reading through these notes, Jerel Jenkins gets very angry. He no longer has trust in the Veterans Administration. The reason why is he feel that most of his answers were made up and/or exaggerated. Page 12 lists that the reason for his back pain is due to heavy lifting of wood at his job. He never said that. Jerel Jenkins has never had to pick up wood at his job. He was a truck driver, 100% no touch, which means that the places that he delivers to unloads the trucks. As noted from medical records, Jerel Jenkins did not suffer from back and shoulder pain until he joined the Army. He has several recorded visits for treatment that he went to on base where he was stationed. Disagreement for Skin Rash, Bilateral Hands(Both) AND Right and Left Hand Condition(Pain) His hand and foot diseases are one in the same. He has severe rash and itching on hands and feet due to where he was stationed in Iraq and the materials he had to handle. He was given 0% for his feet, but denied for his hands. This decision is also being disagreed with. Jerel Jenkins does not understand how the VA can say that service connection has been established for tinea pedis, bilateral foot rash but deny the bilateral hand rash that is documented and shown and noted on page 13 of the Progress Notes printed October 7, 2013. The physical examination of the hands states “posterior lateral large area that skin has peeled” on page 13 of the Progress Notes. Jerel Jenkins hands hurts so bad, that many nights I catch him rubbing, moaning as if in pain. This is everyday. He scratches uncontrollably. Disagreement for Degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease, Knee Pain(both) and Shoulder Pain(both) Jerel Jenkins treatment records shows a history of low back pain. There is record of disability. Due to this back pain, it is believed that this is what caused pain in other areas of Jerel Jenkins' body. Lower back pain is known to have an affect on the knees. Nerve pain is a from a back injury causes knee pain. Jerel has had none of these problems prior to military service and have since gotten worse since leaving the military. Jerel Jenkins also has a history of shoulder pain. This history started only after joining the military. This is not a preexisting condition. Progress note printed October 7, 2015 during the physical examination list “Joint exam WNL. Back: discomfort with rt to left movement in lumbar area. Left shoulder: lateral clavicle pain with rom”

Just set him up to get back into therapy. His appointment is the 23rd of this month. He did have ptsd testing. The first test was Iraq/Afghan Post-Deployment Screening which he tested positive for. a PHQ-2 Screening was positive for depression. Alcohol screening test was negative. But a PCL-C test says he tested negative for ptsd.

How do I upload the pictures here?

I do not have access to my scanner right now but I have the files in my hand. I will take pics of portions of it and attach it here.(if that works) Also, thanks for your replies. I made him an appointment with a civilian psychiatrist. His Va therapist at the Vet Center is a Ph.D., LMFT I do have his C&P exam notes and its several inconsistencies from that and the decision letter. He began going to the Vet center in 2012. He had over 10 appointments. Going weekly, then monthly, then our son had to have emergency brain surgery so he had to stop going for a while. From June thru dec he didn't go. He resumed treatment in January 2013. I also had meningitist in September 2012 so that is also a reason he took such a long break. His therapist was concerned of suicidal thoughts so she wanted him to continue before she released info to VA. He only say the QTC examiner once for less than 10 minutes. Im going to take the pics of the treatment summary from the QTC exam, the decision letter and the letter from his vet center therapist now

Hi I am new to this forum and would like your opinion. I am the spouse of an Army Veteran. Jerel, was honorably discharged in 2005. He spent 19 months in Iraq. He dealt with several stressors including a vehicle in front of him running over a live bomb and 17 of 19 were killed, having to pick up bodies after the UN Bombing, being fearful every single time he had to travel while there, and while traveling an iraqi girl and her father were standing on side of road while Jerel's unit was traveling. The little girl waved at Jerel and he waved back. The little girl then threw something and in a flash, he thought his life was over. It turned out to be a fish, but when she threw it he had no idea what it was. Jerel's job was a fueler. In April 2012, I helped him file a claim for PTSD, Back Pain, Tinnititus, Bilateral Foot Rash(both) and Bilateral Hand Rash(both). He had began seeing a VA therapist at a Vet Center near our home. He was diagnosed with PTSD. He did not get his treatment summary until January 2014. His therapist felt he needed more appointments before she wrote the diagnosis down. Because the VA didn't receive the diagnosis, they sent him to several contracted appointments. They were for Back, hands, feet and PTSD. Let me tell you, the PTSD appointment was horrible. We filled out all the paperwork and answered all the questions before he got there. The appointment lasted less than 10 minutes. The psychiatrist response to Jerel was always this statement "that doesn't mean you have PTSD". In the denial letter, it seems as if she twisted everything we answered on the forms and turned it into her own answers. Jerel, at one point in time, smoked marijuana to deal with his PTSD issues. He quit smoking in June 2009. This contracted appointment was in August 2013. She diagnosed him with "cannabis abuse in early remission" on 2/20/2015. I did my research. For a patient to be diagnosed with "abuse in early remission" the patient had to have quit the abuse within the last 12 months. Jerel had been sober for 4 years at the time of the appointment. I think she read the question on the forms we filled out that asked if he ever smoked marijuana and then came to her own conclusions. I appealed the decision this past week. Has anyone ever dealt with this type of behavior from a VA Contracted therapist and if so, what was done to fix it? Jerel now has no trust at all in the system and he quit going to therapy. He has a hard time. Horrible dreams about things he saw in Iraq, lashing out at me and the kids, paranoid, feelings of fear, punching holes in walls and an unhealthy obsession of viewing Iraqi streets on GoogleMaps. Also, he was given 10% rating for hearing. 0% for bilateral foot rash but denied for the hand rash. This denial confuses me as well. The hand and foot rash came from the same source. So how can they say "okay your rash on your foot is service related but we are denying the hand rash claim" I am no professional, so please have patience with me. I wrote a notice of disagreement and would like your opinion without anyone making me feel bad. If anyone would like to see it, please let me know. What do you think of the PTSD claim? Do you think we can get the diagnosis of cannabis abuse in early remission thrown out being that he is clearly pass the 12 month in remission stage? Do you think the fact that the therapist was not professional can play a role in the VA approving his request? The fact that he has a diagnosis dated AFTER the Contracted diagnosis should be considered.