Hello everyone,
Here's a little backround info as this is my first post; I submitted an FDC (for Hemiplegic Migraine with secondary left hand and face parasthesias, Intractable Chronic Migraine, PTSD, Shoulder Injury, and Wrist Injury) online on April 7, received a paper confirmation letter dated 9 April 15, and then didn't hear anything until this friday when FedEx delivered two packages with instructions to report for C&P exams on June 9th (migraines) and June 18th (PTSD) both outsourced to VES.
I did try to get help (PTSD symptoms) at the Phoenix VA hospital a while back as a walk in, and was told there was no one there, (not no one available, actually no one present) and to come back another time. I also tried to use the online system to get an appointment, but never heard anything. Since my husbands insurance covers me, I went private instead and for the past two years the Mayo Clinic has been my PCP. I submitted all of my relevant records from Mayo along with copies of my service medical records in the FDC.
The first C&P is with a PA. When I called the number on the form to confirm the appointment I was told it's for "migraines." When I looked through the forms etc I see that I meet the criteria for 50% ratings for both migraines AND hemiplegic migraines independently (both are definitely prostrating, both occur multiple times a week, and both interfere with my ability to maintain employment). Anyone who has ever had a hemiplegic migraine (which is almost no one, they're pretty rare) knows that they are a VERY different beast from "regular" migraines. They also have different diagnostic codes and different treatments, therefore IMO they should be considered separately, which is why I also assume the VA will try to lump them together.
I have an appointment with my neurologist at Mayo this Friday, and he's already said he'll fill out any forms I need. I'm thinking I'll ask him to fill out the DBQ forms, but do two separate migraine forms, one for each type, and also the appropriate DBQ for the parasthesia. But I'm assuming I'd still go to the PA for the C&P unless otherwise notified after faxing in the DBQ's.
As far as the PTSD goes, I was diagnosed by the psychiatrist at Mayo which was in the records I submitted. He also stated that it was a direct result of my first hemiplegic migraine, which happened while flying over Afghanistan (we declared an IFE but were not allowed to divert the aircraft) and I thought I was dying of a stroke, which I relive every time I have one. So would this scheduled C&P on the 18th be the initial since the diagnosis wasn't made by the VA? Or would this count as a review? I also noticed the examiner is a PhD not an MD, should I be worried about that? Should I ask my psychologist at Mayo (the initial eval was by the psychiatrist, but I have regular sessions with the psychologist there to help with anxiety) to do the DBQ form for PTSD review? I also cited a second stressor event in the claim, but due to the nature of te job I can't give any details at all, how does classified material get handled in these cases?
I haven't heard anything about the shoulder and wrist issues yet, but they're both well documented in my service records, so hopefully I'll get notice that something has been scheduled soon. Is there anything else I should be doing in the meantime?
Thanks in advance