KYVet

I really appreciate all of your input. Thanks. I hope this post helps clear things up for others as well.

According to my records they have diagnosed Anxiety Disorder NOS. He verbally stated that I experience PTSD symptoms. This is documented in my intake session with a nurse practitioner when I first started being seen regarding these issues.

Need help clarifying the VA's clarification. I was recently confused about the difference of anxiety vs PTSD. I thought I gained an understanding about it when I realized one major difference was a traumatic event. Recently I went to my VA appt and asked for clarification on this issue and why they are treating me for anxiety instead of PTSD. I have had two traumatic events that qualify as a nexus. I experience most if not all of the PTSD symptoms such as anger outbursts, hypervigilance, panic attacks, chronic sleep disturbance, flashbacks, etc. My psych doc advised under the new DSM-V PTSD is at the end of a continuum starting with anxiety then panic attacks in the middle, and ptsd at the end: anxiety--------------->panic attacks[----------]------->ptsd He stated all of these fall under anxiety disorders in the new DSM-V. He stated that I would fall under the upper third of this continuum, as indicated by the brackets. I am currently preparing a claim, i.e. gathering evidence of stressors, buddy notes, etc. However, I am even more confused now about what my claim should be for: anxiety disorder/panic attacks/or ptsd. I just don't want to file for something that they would say i have not met the level of and there for denied. But I do not want to file a claim that is going to fall short of what I am going through either. Any help would be greatly appreciated. And as always many thanks to those who served before me and to those who continue the tradition onto the next generation.

I have already asked for that. They sent me to a social worker with the VA. Then to a nurse practitioner who did a screening, not sure if it was specifically for ptsd, but she did note PTSD symptoms along with anxiety and depression. I then was sent to a psychologist for the first appt. So I guess my final question is: do I wait for an actual diagnosis of PTSD specifically, prior to filing or do I file when I develop all of my evidence of stressors with what I have now, that is listed in my first post? I have a GAF of 50, Axis I Anxiety, Depression, Axis II no diagnosis or not ruled out.

After the earthquake and volcano events that occured in my service, I would not talk about it much. When I did or when I would think about it I could smell the death like I was standing right in the middle of it. I had some nightmares and in one instance I had what I believe to be a panic/anxiety attack that brought me to my knees. It took about 20 minutes to recover from. I never knew what PTSD was until long after my first service separation in 1992. Therefore, I have no documentation of my symptoms back then. My wife and I had a lot of problems coming back from Iraq. She would say things like, You are not who you were before you left. I just wrote this off a bullshit because I was not exposed to daily combat and thought it was an excuse on her part to make me the one wrong in the situation. I do still have documentation of all of my change of station orders and orders for OIF. When I came back from Iraq, my VA Doc stated that I flagged for PTSD. I didn't even know I was being screened for it but when he asked if I wanted him to look into it further I told him no, thinking again "it can't be happening to me." Now I wish I would have done otherwise. Only hoping now that he noted what ever it was that flagged me back then.

Thanks for all of the info and advice. I have at least two military stressors. Now whether the VA counts them as such is yet to be seen. I was in the Phillipines in 1991 during Mt. Pinatubo. An event categorized by the USGS as a collossal event. I wont get into the specifics but i would think it qualifies as a direct exposure to threatend death. In 1990, I did search and rescue as a result of a 7.7 earthquake, assisting in pulling hundreds of dead bodies out of a collapsed building. I also served in OIF. I was never in a direct firefight but as an MP participating in convoy and EPW security we were often recipients of sniper fire, mortar attacks as well as a silk worm missile that nearly hit Camp Bucca when it was first being developed early on. I am working about 30 hrs a week. I get the whole down play personal stressors. I did mention it in my initial screening when asked if there had been any recent events that may have contributed. The nurse practitioner advised that often times this is a cummulative disorder and that any type of stressing event can over fill the cup so to speak. As far as rewards go, I am currently getting my DD214 straight where they never awarded me the Iraq Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism medal. My understanding about combat related PTSD is that you have to have been involved in active combat. I translate that to be like the 3rd ID and others who pushed through to Bahgdad. Our mission was to follow them to bahgdad and transport the prisoners back to Bucca. So we encountered residual resistance but never an occasion to identify where it was coming from to fight back. As for the volcano and earthquake events, I can obtain buddy statements for those. I have at least one supervisor who can possibly write one and one or more veteran brothers that were there as well. I really appreciate all of the responses

First let me say that I love this sight and find it invaluable! I am a sc veteran at 70% on physical conditions. I too am in the beginning stages of what I believe to be a valid PTSD claim. I have only been to one therapist appointment after an intake exam/interview. I have multiple sc stressors. The first stressor occured in 1990. After that experience, I had what I believe to be smell sensory flashbacks. For the next 10 years or so everytime I would think or be coerced into talking about it I would smell the death that I was exposed too. The second sc stressor occured in 1991. As a result of this stressor, I had nightmares and I what I believe to have been a severe panic attack years later that brought me to my knees and made me feel like I had just been in a heavyweight fight. After about 10-11 years, either the symptoms began to subside or I somehow learned to suppress them or write them off with a uneducated explanation. I have been the main bread winner in my family and feel heavily dependent upon so I am the one who does not have time to break down. In 2009, I was diagnosed albeit long overdue, with sleep apnea. In June 2014, I lost my 22 year old daughter to cancer within 3 weeks of being diagnosed. I believe this was my tipping point. I have been experiencing increasing problems over the past six months that seem to be onsetting at rapid pace. It now takes me a minimum 2 hours to get to sleep regardless of how tired I am due to racing thoughts (sometimes random or very minor connections, sometimes over someone who pissed me off during the day, sometimes over the stressors until my mind jumps to the next topic). I feel hyper vigillant no matter my setting I feel like I have to have a plan to defend myself at all times.....just in case. I am not a person who gets mad easily but once I am, I am rageful it seems. For example, a VA travel clerk asked me, with some attitude, why didn't I take care of my travel voucher while at the VA when I requested a form to be mailed. I didn't even know I qualified for travel previous to a conversation with the M/H Clinic, but that resulted in a 2-3 hour thought process while trying to go to sleep and me becoming more angry by the minute. The only thing that resolved it was calling and complaining on the guy. I do not mean to go on about my apparent symptoms, but I have said all of that to say this. I recently downloaded my VA Problems List from MyHealtheVet and the therapist listed Anxiety NOS, Depressive Disorder NOS. My questions: One, is this a diagnosis after one visit, and, two, why would they list this when I am seeking help for PTSD and these seem to be symptoms of PTSD? I feel like there is so much more going on than Anxiety. And to be honest I am not sure about the depression. I am a very hard charging self motivated person and do not feel depressed. I mean yeah I have alot on my plate and sometimes it feels like there is no end but as I was taught by my father and my military and law enforcement experience you suck it up and push through. So that is what I do. I feel like I am rambling so I will end it here. Thanks to my fellow vets for your service and thank you for your time and responses

Hello all! I am a new member to the group and can not say enough about how valuable this forum is and has been. I am a OIF veteran (2003) and have recently started having some of what I think might be early precursors to PTSD. A little pretext to my situation: I have served 12 years in the military. I have two stressors miltary related. As a result, I have, in the distant past, experienced smell flashbacks and nightmares. At one point, had what I believe to be a severe panic attack bringing me to my knees with shortness of breath, racing heart, etc after military service. When it was done I felt like I had been in a fight with a bear. I recently lost my 22 yo daughter in June of 2014 to cancer. My most recent issues have been avoiding crowds, feeling like I have to have a plan to defend myself from any one in a room, restaurant, store etc. should they decide to attack, back to the wall at all times preferably with an exit in sight. I am very sensitive to loud noises and startle easily. At times I have panic attacks and feel like I have an elephant sitting on my chest and get flush in my face, etc. I feel like I have to be in total control of my environment at all times or the panic will set in (if that makes any sense). Without boring you all with any further details, i have just now started getting some therapy from the VA reference this. In fact my second visit with the therapist is in July. I am currently 70% sc with other physical issues. I recently downloaded what is called the VA Problem List from the MyHealtheVet and the therapist has labled it Anxiety NOS, Bereavment, and Depressive Disorder NOS. I am not sure if this is a diagnosis or just a starting point. If it is a diagnosis, anxiety and depression are symptoms of PTSD so why not a PTSD diagnosis since I have stressors that are provable. Now granted the therapist, I assume at this point, has only taken my word when it comes to my stressors and I have only begun the documentation phase of my PTSD claim. I am just wondering if this is something I have to let play out or if I need to get on top of this to steer it in the direction of my PTSD claim. Thanks for any help. And thank you all for your service! If not us, then who!