pumibel

So far all three of the clinics I have visited took my vouchers and faxed them to a number provided by VES. All I do is sign and date them. Obviously, QTC has a different arrangement. Maybe the lady at the VA is not informed of the process/ new to the position. I think everyone is more wary of mass shooting situations these days, and on top of that, a lot of people believe that PTSD makes everyone who has it violent. I really hate that!

I agree Buck. All of my exams have been far less stressful than I had anticipated. That's not to say they were breezy, but I didn't experience the poor treatment or contempt that I have heard about from many others here. Two of the examiners have been male doctors, and I had been worried that they would dismiss my issues altogether. No offense, but there are still men who don't like the fact that women are in the military. I don't encounter it nearly as much as I used to, though. Are you done with your C&P exams now, or do you still have more to go?

Thanks again! I know that I have sved some links somewhere that explains a lot of this, so I m going to look for it. I appreciate you looking up the migraines for me!

Thanks Flores! I believe he quoted 50 for the migraines. Same for the back/neck pain. Honestly, he was dictating as his trainee was making entries, so I may have confused some of those numbers. I feel strong about the migraines however.

I have at least 2 a month where I have to darken the room and lie down. Sometimes they last for several days, and it hurts to read, work on the computer, or listen to music. Most of my complaints are constant, but fibro flareups and anxiety-related symptoms probably cut my daily productivity in half. The doctor was throwing a lot of different numbers/percentages out there, like the ROM and others I cannot remember now. I was not really expecting anything to have 100% rating since I have been separated for so many years.

Buck- is yours an FDC? Mine was, and I have had the same experience. The VES called me on Jan 15, 2016, and they made my appointments for the 21st, 25th, 27th and 29th of January 2016. She told me that they were trying to make sure that my claim was processed timely, and that they wanted all of my exams done before mid-February. I was also confused by this because my case has been preceding in a different pace and direction than what I have been reading for others. My docs have been informative and pretty up-front about how their conclusions. During the one I had today, the examiner dictated his findings to his assistant right in front of me. I know which conditions he has already connected and what pages he cited in my STR. It was all on his computer. I think the reason why the VA has been clearing the C&P backlog is that they have trained a lot more civilian doctors to conduct these exams via contractors like VES. The people handling your C-File may be slower because they are printing and mailing (I assume) these records, which probably have to go through some QCs first.

I knew that would be a tough one. If it is determined that my TMD was related to PTSD and Anxiety, would that be good or bad? It doesn't sound like I would be 100% SC, right?

I just got back from C&P exam #3. This doc seemed to really understand how the VA process works, and he was focused on connecting my issues to my AD, not with trying to undermine my claim. He and his assistant did the paperwork right there as we went over all of my claims. He service connected my migraines, back and neck, and right foot. He could find entries in my STR to support those specific claims. He even connected my migraines as a primary DX and determined that they were not part of the PTSD. As it stands, he cannot connect my claims for arthritis because no one ever Dxed it during my military service or even afterwards (they never took xrays). He could not connect Fibromyalgia immediately for the same reasons, but I was DXed with fibro and DeQuervain's disease after I separated. I have x-rays on Friday, and he said that if anything showed changes to the joints in the x-rays, he will go through my records to find the appointments where I had gone in to sick call with pain in my joints or the general area. For the fibro and De Quervain's, he may be able to find applicable complaints in my STR that show symptoms even if X-rays do not show any problems. I was so relieved to learn that he had access to my STR! I know now that it is available somewhere and not lost forever.

Hi Willidx, I have been going to my C&P exams in NC as well, and so far my experiences have been positive. Finding these places and showing up is hard enough, so I am glad she did not make you go through details again. I agree- keep thinking positive! Where was your C&P doctor located? (if you don't mind me asking)

Well I have two more left, and they are this week as well. I will request my C-file afterwards, maybe next week!

Thanks Flores! I will give that a try. Since my exams were scheduled rather short notice and close together, I figured I would wait until they were all done before trying to find my records again. I am nervous about disrupting the process now that it seems to be rolling along again.

Buck- shouldn't I wait until all of the exams are done and they have made the decision? It seems like I would disrupt the process.

The packets I was sent for my appointments have a number to call at the VA to get copies of the C&P exam results. I saw this today while we were driving to my appointment. I had missed it during previous readings. The contractor who schedules these appointments (VES in my case) cannot release anything to me, but I can call this number to request the paperwork.

Thanks Navy! I have two more this week, and that should be the last of the C&P exams. The General Medical review is on Wednesday, and my diagnostic imaging extravaganza in on Friday. This is wearing me out, and my poor mom too, since she takes me to the appointments. I am sure she will be happy when this week is over!

Hey Andy, I just got back from my dental C&P, and two dentists (I made sure they were dentists not assistants) discussed my case with me. The TMJ specialist said that yes, I am a daytime clencher, not a night time grinder, and the majority of clenching is caused by stress. Since I have symptoms and damage associated with chronic, long-term clenching, it is completely reasonable that this started with the 2001 trigger as I had postulated. I had to discuss the PTSD claim and details associated with that because it was relevant to the jaw and headache pains. Hell, I was clenching right there in the office! In my case, the damage is mostly to the myofascial tissue rather than the actual joint, but the discs attached to the jaw bone are out of alignment from the years of clenching. Since physical symptoms and my account are in accord, they support a service connection. I know this is ultimately up to the VA, but there you have it from two experts. So this excuse that your VARO is giving you does not really stand up if your jaw pain is from clenching. You should definitely keep after your VARO about getting that exam! At the very least you can be seen by VA dentists if you can get the condition service connected. It will save you $$$! Hope this helps! Pumi

No they do not, so I think you are right that I would have to wait until after the VA decision to see the results.

You too, eh Buck? I am glad yours went well. I was very relieved after going through mine the other day. It is like a huge weight lifted, even if you do not have the decision yet. Congratulations on completing the big one!

Veterans Evaluation Services (VES) made the appointments for me. They are contracted for a number of regional VA offices, including mine.

Well, the snow here was rather weak (Southeastern NC), but it is cold, wet and icy- nasty! I hate the cold because it makes my hands and feet hurt so much. I hope the weather is not too extreme on your end!

Well, she told me that she felt like all of my current psychiatric problems began after the triggering events that I described, which was definitely during my active duty service. She was not a provider at my VAMC. She had been contracted by VES, and she has a private practice. I was hoping that I would have something in my HealtheVet records soon, but I have no idea if her results will be accessible through that system. I have authorized the VA to share with outside doctors, but I don't know if that is relevant either.

That sounds like laziness, Andy! Who really has extensive dental records in their STR anyway? They only looked at us once a year, and the dentist is only going to start therapy when there is significant damage to the jaw. The damage may start in your STR, but the real troubles with TMD are not going to be debilitating until years later in most cases. My experience with military docs was that your aches and pains were "normal" and the large Motrin pills would fix it. Veterans become chronically ill and disabled later because the docs leave these issues to get worse. One entry in the STR (even one showing that they blew your issue off) should be enough since it establishes that your complaint is not new. Current symptoms and damage can prove that you have been suffering from a chronic untreated problem.

Thanks Vync- She was a Psy D, so I don't have to worry about that part of it. I certainly do feel like the PTSD is behind my grinding and clenching as well as some of the symptoms related to my Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome, including headaches.

Thank you all for your support! I was already a nervous wreck when I went in there, so there was no need to exaggerate anything, Lol. I had a female doctor who was contracted as well, so she is a civilian. She is very nice, and I did have to answer a lot of questions. The thing that was surprising was that she had a copy of the statement I wrote for my claim, and she said that it was so detailed and concise that she would not have to go over the events again in detail with me. She also had some background information already from my current VA psychiatrist (notes from the HealtheVet system). I was totally honest about everything, and she told me that even if I did have some teen angst prior to military duty, she felt that the triggering events from AD were the source of my current issues (PTSD and Anxiety/social phobia). She also suggested that I talk with my VA psych and get therapy along with the medications. I feel like it went well. I guess I have to see how the paperwork comes out to be sure. Next week I have to see the dentist, the general practitioner, and I have to get a butt-load of Xrays and an echo-cardiogram. I think today's appointment was the one that scared me the most, though, and I am glad I have that out of the way. My contention is that the physical ailments were the result of extreme anxiety, so this is already looking and feeling like it is going in a positive direction. I really appreciate all of your well-wishes and support. I can barely move my head right now- that is how bad the tension is right now, lol!

Hi Jon- one question up front: did you make sure you changed your address with the VA after you moved to Kansas? I am not one of the seasoned folks here who can answer about the claim process from experience, but I do know that even FDCs can take a while to process, and they do sit in the "gathering evidence" stage for a while. Mine is still there too, but I was contacted recently to make all of my C&P appointments. I filed my claim in mid-Sep 2015 as well, but I am claiming different things along with PTSD. Everyone's case is unique, so that doesn't mean that you will get a call soon necessarily. Just in case, You may want to call the VA to make sure your contact information is current. I hope someone else chimes in soon to help you out more!

Hi everyone! I have not been in here for a while since I have started some classes. I bet I have some catching up to do! Last week I received a phone call from VES to schedule all of my exams ASAP, so tomorrow is my PTSD exam. I have been stressing about it for the past few days, but I know that cannot help. Next week I have to see the dentist on the 25th, a regular general medical doctor on the 27th, and on the 29th I have a bunch of X-rays and an echo-cardiogram scheduled. The VA had sent me a letter, dated for the 24th of December 2015, stating that they could not settle my case under the FDC program because they needed to know where all of my aches and pains were located. I was not surprised that they were going to remove my claim from the FDC, but the reasoning was suspect. I had provided all of the pain locations on my claim, and when I go to eBennies and look at my pending claim, I can see all of the places listed. Today I received another VA letter stating that the Dec letter was an error, and that all of my appointments would be scheduled very soon, so my claim would stay in the FDC program after all. yay! I still do not know where my STRs are! The agencies from which I have requested my records (except for my local VA records) have all sent me letters stating that they do not have them. Argh! I hope everyone here has had a pleasant holiday season and a good start for the new year! EDIT: I was going to ask a few questions, and I totally forgot! Here are my most pressing ones: Should I bring notes with me? What do they do during the PTSD C&P? I have only answered some survey questions in the past and didn't discuss the actual event. I am very anxious about that!