Inarticulate&Distorted

Buck is right.  Make sure to be very professional in the way you do ask about it.  Don't try to force them to change it, but them to see there is an issue and amend it.
So I used to go to the VA for PTSD, but I stopped after 6 months of therapy and when the doctor told me she believed she could cure me.  I asked how she was going to do this and she listed off a bunch of treatment and meds and meetings.  Her thoughts from what I could get where to break the link of what had happened and leave it there or forget about it. After that time with no change, and almost losing my job because I was at the VA so much I left there.  
I tried to explain to the doctors this is like I was shot with BAR and the bullet was still lodged in my body.  Can they give you tools to better deal with everything I have a lot now, but as for the wound it has healed to a degree, but the events have never stopped.   The bad thing is I told here I can't remember my dreams since the war, but I can feel I am dreaming about bad things as I wake up in such away.  They just dismissed this as a side effect.  
Now I have good counselors who know what you are dealing with and will just listen and not try to fix you.  You are not broken you just went through some crap and you need help dealing with it!

It can be a very stressful situation.  This is what they also take into account your doctors notes from therapy sessions.  They also weigh Lay statements.  They also look at the events which took place to get you there.  
This part does weight on the rating, but you will just have to wait and see what is said and sometimes you get a good surprise.  It will all be ok, there are many avenues to get to the finish line and everyone's here is different, but the great thing is you have an amazing resource here of people to help you make it!  I know right now everything is focused on this, but you are here doing the work and you keep going never stop.
I know there are a lot of people here who have go through the same crap, so post and ask for help and you will get the help you need!
I have said this before we are a great big disorganized family who would do anything to help!

Do you believe you answered the examiners questions as honestly as possible during the exam? Yes or No?
To alleviate some of your anxiety; here is how PTSD and other mental disorders are rated:
Which criteria best fits your occupational and social impairment?
 

Hopefully things will be good on the exam.  Waiting for the results is the hard part.  I thought the military made you wait, boy was I wrong.

I printed the Commissary letter and it states the same thing. It also states that no future exams are needed. This is the first time I’ve seen any of my claims like this. 

Final update! I just signed into E-bennifits and the AB8 letter just got updated! I guess it’s really true!!!!! Effective date 1 May 18. My wife can finally breathe and give me a fist bump 👊!!!!!! Champagne Anyone?????

I would like to thank everyone who provided me with such valuable information concerning my Individual unemployability claim. I did receive my 100% disability. I filed my claim on April 16, 2018 and my claim was awarded on June 20, 2018. It took only 64 days to complete. Thanking you all again for your help. God Bless you all. 
Air Force Vet

Long time lurker just stopping by to say thanks.  Everything I have learned about VA claims has been learned here.  Recently I ask the VA to reopen my claim for migraines secondary to major depressive disorder.  
They reopened it and I had a C&P exam.  I was expecting to be denied secondary connection again.  I was super surprised when I found out the VA had granted connection at 30%.  Not only did that move me to 100% combined put the VA granted permanent and total with no future exams.
Plus they went back 1 year to the date when  I first ask for secondary service connection instead of the date I asked them to reopen. Maybe this is the new VA.
 I also won an 8 year battle for service connection to fybromaliga a few months before this . Someone at the finally stopped to read the same evidence I have been giving them for the last 8 years. I revived 40% on that one which did not change my rating at the time.
 
once again hadit veterans thanks for sharing your knowledge. 

So until today, no confirmation on the appeal award outside of E-benefits, and it still shows the appeal as open and pending. However, three separate deposits hit my bank account earlier today. The numbers add up correctly, so confidence is very high on this. Even more thankful in Tampa Bay.

It will be a week before the BBE shows. Hope it is P&T, spouse gets CHAMPVA then.
Summary of benefit information Include? Information Value Include the information in this row You have one or more service-connected disabilities: Yes Include the information in this row Your combined service-connected evaluation is: 100% Include the information in this row and the one below it Your current monthly award amount is: The effective date of the last change to your current award was: $3139.67 June 01, 2018 Include the information in this row You are considered to be totally and permanently disabled due solely to your service-connected disabilities: The effective date of when you became totally and permanently disabled due to your service-connected disabilities: Yes May 16, 201  

Unfortunately, this exam is absent of a nexus of opinion, does not state the necessary minimum threshold of "at least as likely as not" your condition was due to or the result of military service and a rationale was not provided. Did your outside provider provide the nexus of opinion?
Which is going to be sent back to the examiner for clarification and an addendum. This will delay your claim two weeks or more depending on the examiner's response.
 
Here is the good news. The c&p examiner basically agreed with your outside provider on a diagnosis for PTSD and the examiner marked the criteria for a 100% rating.
Relax. Breathe. It appears your exam went well, it's just going to take a bit longer than expected. The longer it takes the more in retro pay you will receive.
Best wishes.

EBennie is, and always will be, a form of self-inflicted torture. Your stuff looks good otherwise. Keep us posted.

Remember there is such a thing as service aggravated.  If they accepted you as healthy at MEPS without a waiver you were accepted as healthy.  Trying to blame a condition on pre-existing is pretty difficult.

So, I had a half assed 20 minute long C&P with my gf in the room. After asking a few basic DBQ questions he stops typing while I go into what happened. My gf chimes in every now and then on stuff I've forgotten. Never went into how this stuff affects me. Never got into history of heroin usage. Never into my incarceration. The guy then informs me I don't have PTSD because I don't meet the "fear of military hostility" criteria. I'm floored right now. I can't even begin to describe just how hopeless I feel. It sucks when your fears are realized despite peoples assurances. Who to trust now?
 

Sounds like an idiot who doesn't know what he is doing!

Yeah I'm trying and I'll make it through. I'm too stubborn to do anything else really. My Attorney is pretty optimistic about things so in 2 days I can put this phase behind me. At this point I should be made of diamonds 😄 

Keep your chin up man, it's pressure that turns you into a diamond 😉

Yes it is absolutely great news indeed. Not only are things moving along, albeit slowly, but I feel, for the first time that the end is potentially in sight. I honestly cannot see this lasting longer than the end of the year. So for the first time cautious optimism. The next item on the list to worry about is the exam itself, followed by the raters decision and possible NOD. I'm holding my breath that I don't have to appeal any higher.  So far my ducks are in a row, but like anything if you over extend you run the risk of collapse. Believe me I'd prefer to be anywhere but here. I hate the fact that I'm dealing with the VA. I hate the fact that I have to overcome mental deficiencies to combat a government agency that should damned well know better.
I'm dealing with some pretty severe anxiety right now. It happens when a target date appears on the horizon. Things ramp up in my head and the dynamo starts spinning up. Since the date is so suddenly close with little advanced warning, things tend to ratchet up exponentially. The term I like to use is "zero to hero"
So I get to wonder for the next 9 days if I'm walking into a quacks office. Will I be able to understand this person. Will I be able to cut through the bullshit and discern true intent. Is this person even the correct person to conduct the exam. Am I going to get screwed because this guy wants to save the government some cash. Things of that nature.
I've seen the rating schedule I know where I fit. I've also seen the DSM-4/DSM-5 criteria for PTSD and I know that's what I have. I don't want to walk into an exam and be made a mockery of or insulted. I've been down those roads and their not fun.
I was thinking of taking some pictures of my room and living area. To show how badly my mental health affects my daily living. I also need to come up with a list of symptomology and occurance rates. So much still to do it seems to hit the goal. Still so much uncertainty. I try to remain confident. It's hard, especially when you're wide awake at 3am filled with doubt and uncertainty. Maybe things will go smoothly from here on out. If the history of my claim is any indication I doubt it. More likely I will have to continue to fight and claw for every inch I gain. But hey, that's what soldiers do.

A C & P date is Great!!
Dont forget Longtooth- you did what many vets with bad paper never can do-you received a favorable Character of Discharge.
That in itself is a Victory!!!!!
 

And I have a C&P exam date set for Aug 6th.
I would like to thank everybody so far for the support and knowledge contributed to my case up to this point. Without the advice and links pointing to policy and law I would not effectively be able to keep my attorney on point. Thank you Hadit.
 
 

good stuff, let them cut the pizza how they want, long as they give the whole box to the vet!!!
sometimes I think the VA cannot discern between a symptom of a disease or injury, or the disease or injury itself
BACK STRAIN.. now thats a symptom, but it sound very mild. so the V loves it.
have you ever heard a real doctor say,,, ohh yes, patient  stiiffypoke,, that poor guy, hes had a back strain for 10 years now.. a back strain is a mild, short term injury.  Not something that goes on for years.
but you see , they dont want to know the extent of the problem, because it forces additional comp. so they quickly give u the ole faithful back strain diagnosis, your empty peanut shell rating, and hope u go away. yes you can go away mad, but just go away.  hell they will pay you less in 5 years at 10 percent than what a full spine MRI costs.. very clever they are .
 

It is difficult to say. Just keep in mind that the status on ebenefits or from calling the toll-free number can change and fluctuate often. The letter, or big brown envelope (BBE), will eventually arrive and hopefully bring you some good news. Good luck!

Having an attorney can help greatly, especially in tough situations or on appeals.
When I was new here on Hadit around 10 years ago, I learned how to help myself from the members, articles, and forums. I also enlisted the aid of VSO's, too. When I filed an appeal, I contacted an attorney who went over my evidence and gave me guidance. I was going to retain them, but they said to wait and see how the appeal turned out. If I lost, I would have signed on.
You just have to keep in mind everyone's situation is different. Also, the attorney commercials you see on TV often include statement similar to, "The quality of representation by this attorney is not necessarily better than that of other attorneys." Attorneys are people and some may actually be better than others.

@DevilDogCurt
Did your VSO even bother to read the letter from your doc?
I was diagnosed with depression caused by my SC joint pain. I filed a claim, was examined, and approved. Your VSO needs more training.

A full grant is one where the VA agrees with all of your contentions.  It appears that your contention is that you were mentally incapacitated when you were discharged OTH.
I read that the VA has agreed with this contention and that you are considered to have honorable service and therefore entitled to VA benefits.  This now allows you to make a claim for service connected benefits. 
You should be speaking with your lawyer about this as they will be able to fully inform you as to your next action.