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JWMN89

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About JWMN89

Profile Information

  • Military Rank
    E3
  • Location
    SC
  • Interests
    Trying to survive day by day right now.

Previous Fields

  • Service Connected Disability
    70%
  • Branch of Service
    Navy
  • Hobby
    None

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JWMN89's Achievements

  1. I filed for an increase on my 70% PTSD rating in early March as I'm no longer able to work. My personal psychiatrist completed a DBQ, wrote a letter, and included a GAF report. I included three years of her medical records with the increase application. Last week I had a C&P with VES. It was a sub-15 minute affair via telehealth and the doctor hadn't even reviewed my records yet. I would certainly hope the VA reviewer who will set the rate would give more credence to the DBQ from the psychiatrist than that "quickee" interview. JW
  2. I am 70% for PTSD alone. It's a static rating now and I'm in my mid 50's. The VSO cited some state benefits like property tax and license plates as his reasoning.
  3. I saw a VSO yesterday who recommended I file for an increase without also for IU. He said my records and DBQ meet 100% and that this is preferable to IU. I was under the impression it was best to apply for both and that the rater would place me in 100% over IU if I meet 100. Should i go along with the VSO or ask him to file for IU at the same time anyway? Thanks!
  4. Thank you for all the replies. I am currently working but "not well". I hide in my office a lot, have breakdowns, can't deal with people (tough when you manage 70 people), and have frequent absences either due to FMLA and leaving early or missing days outright. Plus all the appointments I have to go too. To be honest I'm just going thru the motions and it's only a matter of time before I'm "counseled" or "written up" for performance issues. I'm amazed I've been able to keep it up as long as I have. I'm working on preparing to file for TDIU. I'm thinking 2-3 months then I'll have to leave my job. I'm in the process of refinancing my house to pull out extra cash to help with the "war chest". I'm paying down debt like crazy and have a plan which I think will carry me through. I'm not sure how long the initial TDIU claim will take? Any ideas? I have long term disability available at work so that is an option. Do you think I'd be able to go out on LTD (while still employed) and file for TDIU? My LTD is thru work so I would still be technically "employed" while getting it. JWMN89
  5. It's been about two years since I've posted here. I received a 70% rating for PTSD in 2017. These forums were very helpful to me. Recently I've had another inpatient stay in the psych ward at the VAMC (my third in 15 months) and I'm having more and more difficulty coping with everything. My symptoms are kind of out of control, despite multiple medication changes, and work is becoming more and more difficult every day. I tend to hide in my office, don't talk to people, have breakdowns crying during the day, and generally "exist" and not much else. My work quality has suffered and I'm at the point now where I'm thinking I'm not going to make it to retirement in seven years. I'm burning thru my FMLA hours this year with leaving early, taking days off for being "sick", and the two weeks from this last hospitalization, plus all the appointments I have to attend. My 70% is "static" so there are no future exams scheduled. I turn 55 this year. My PTSD claim was a bit complicated in that it involved something that happened to me in childhood (abuse) that was brought to the surface while in the service (a traumatic flashback) that led to an extended hospital stay and a medical discharge. I remember Berta mentioning my C&P exam was very unusual in that the examiner did an exceptional job writing a favorable opinion. I have a VA psychiatrist along with a private psychiatrist and private therapist and am generally happy with my care (although I'm still waiting on that cure). I'm considering filing for an increase to my PTSD rating (and also filing for IU at the same time). I know if I meet the schedular they'll go that route over IU so 100% is the way I hope it goes. I'm planning to obtain a vocational expert report on myself as part of the increase application process. My private psychiatrist completed a new DBQ for me (she did one in 2017 too). With these DBQ items I'd like to get some feedback on where you think I'll end up? I'm still working (although not well) so I'm thinking I wouldn't get IU. But what about 100%? Thank you. SECTION IV - OCCPUATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIREMENT Occpuational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgement, thinking and/or mood. SECTION VII - SYMPTOMS - Depressed mood - Anxiety - Suspiciousness - Panic attacks more than once a week - Near continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively - Chronic sleep impairment - Impairment of short and long term memory, for example, retention of only highly learned material, while forgetting to complete tasks - Flattend affect - Difficulty in understanding complex commands - Gross impairment in thought processes or communication - Difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships - Difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a work like setting - Inability to establish effective relationships - Suicidal ideation - Persistent delusions or hallucinations - Persistent danger of hurting self or others - Neglect of personal appearance and hygiene - Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene SECTION VIII - OTHER SYMPTOMS PATIENT SUFFERS A MULTITUDE OF SYMPTOMS RESULTING FROM MAJOR DEPRESSION WITH PSYCHOTIC FEATURES AND PTSD. PATIENT SUFFERS FROM AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS WHICH ARE AT TIMES COMMANDING TO SELF-HARM. HALLUCINATION FREQUENCY HAS INCREASED SINCE LAST EXAMINATION IN 2017. PATIENT HAS SUFFERED FROM AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS SINCE 2008 WHEN FIRST DOCUMENTED BY DR. XXXXXXX. PATIENT TENDS TO AVOID SOCIAL INTERACTION AND ENGAGES IN ISOLATION ORIENTED ACTIVITIES. PATIENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THERAPIST XXXXX ON EFFORTS TO EXPAND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. PATIENT EXPERIENCES GREAT CHALLENGES IN THIS REGARD AND STATES HE IS MORE COMFORTABLE "BEING ALONE" AND "BEING AWAY FROM PEOPLE". PATIENT CURRENTLY WORKS FULL-TIME BUT IS MISSING WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS DUE TO HIS CONDITION. PATIENT OFTEN WILL LEAVE WORK EARLY DUE TO NOT FEELING WELL (NOT TOLERATING STRESS AT WORK). HE HAS HAD SEVERAL RECENT OCCASIONS OF MISSING MULTIPLE DAYS OF WORK ON FMLA FOR SYMPTOM EXACERBATION. PATIENTS ABILITY TO WORK IS GREATLY IMPAIRED BY HIS ILLNESS AND HE IS UNABLE TO TOLERATE STRESSORS AT WORK. PATIENT REPORTS AN INABILITY TO "TOLERATE" OTHERS AT WORK, AN INABILITY TO REMAIN CALM AT WORK, AND REPORTS DAILY DIFFICULTIES CONCENTRATING AT WORK. HE HAS FREQUENT EPISODES AT WORK OF TEARFULNESS AND "LOSING IT" AND WILL HIDE IN HIS OFFICE WITH THE DOOR CLOSED. PATIENT SUFFERS FROM BOUTS OF SELF-HARM DIRECTED THINKING, SUICIDAL IDEATION, AND RUMMINATIONS OF DYING. PATIENT HAS HAD A RECENT EXACERBATION OF THESE SYMPTOMS RESULTING IN HOSPITALIZATION AT THE VA IN XXXXXX. SECTION X - REMARKS THE PATIENT HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL UPS AND DOWNS WITH HIS TREATMENT SINCE THE LAST DBQ FILLED OUT IN 2017. OVERALL THE PATIENTS CONDITION HAS NOT IMPROVED. SYMPTOMS INCLUDING AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS, SUICIDIAL IDEATION, NIGHTMARES, FLASHBACKS, AND ANXIETY HAVE INCREASED ON OCCASION. THESE SYMPTOMS ARE GREATLY AFFECTING THE PATIENTS ABILITY TO FUNCTION ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS. HIS ABILITY TO WORK IS HINDERED WITH THESE DAILY SYMPTOMS AND HE HAS MISSED WORK ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS DUE TO HIS DIAGNOSES. HE REPORTS AN INCREASED DIFFICULTY BEING ABLE TO FUNCTION AT HIS JOB DUE TO THESE ISSUES. THE PATIENTS MOOD FLUCTUATES FROM CALM TO SAD ON A DAILY BASIS. PATIENT HAS MADE USE OF THE VETERANS CRISIS LINE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN FEELING THE NEED TO REACH OUT FOR HELP. OVERALL IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE PATIENTS CONDITION IS DEBILITATING FOR HIM IN THE AREAS OF LIVING INCLUDING WORK, SOCIAL, AND PERSONAL. PATIENT CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE IN ALL AREAS OF LIVING. PATIENT ATTENDS BIWEEKLY THERAPY VISITS WITH LPC UTILIZING TALK THERAPY AND EMDR. PATIENT ALSO HAS FREQUENT MEDICATION MANAGEMENT ENCOUNTERS WITH PSYCHIATRIST. PATIENT FOLLOWS UP WITH GROUPS AT THE VA HOSPITAL IN XXXXX. PATIENT UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING THERAPY VISITS AND PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION MANAGEMENT VISITS AND PLANS TO CONTINUE THEM. PATIENT HAS BEEN VERY PROACTIVE IN SEEKING TREATMENT.
  6. Mkah gives good advice. You will feel different as going thru experiences shapes us but it's important to have something else to grab onto. A hobby, family, daily routine, something you can embrace. Work hard to resist the urge to isolate as solitude isn't conducive to healing. You can do it and please continue posting. You have people here who care and understand. JW
  7. Your mother passing in 2012 and you seeking treatment shortly after for fire PTSD seems to be a definite timeline. In your 2012 treatment did you talk about only your fire related issues or did you bring up the molestation as a child and the choking incident also? Being involved in a fire "incident" with your mothers passing and then flashing back to your own near death fire experience and having PTSD seems very obvious. JW
  8. Blackcloud, Thank you for your service. How long ago was your mothers death in the fire and did you seek treatment soon after that? Depending on that could help you I would think. If in your treatment records soon after your mothers death you are mentioning also the ship fire that would seem to provide a link between the two events I would think. I am fairly new here but it seems to me that link between triggering your memories of the shipboard fire and thus bringing out PTSD might be important. How that is documented may play a part in how your case was decided. Again I'm new here and inexperienced in the VA ways so hopefully some of the more seasoned posters can provide more information. JW
  9. Thank you for the replies. My PTSD rating is 70%. I will need to continue therapy to manage and will hopefully be able to continue as I have. Decades of therapy haven't supplied a cure and I really haven't gotten better but I've been able to at least work somewhat steadily. I just want to make sure I do everything right. JW
  10. Now that I have my rating I have some new questions about it. If anyone can answer these or provide input I'd be grateful. I plan to continue treatment with the VA and my private doctors and based on the last thirty years would expect it will last the rest of my life. If anything I've noticed over the last few years my symptoms have gotten worse and the ability to leave the house and work day to day has become more difficult with each year. While therapy and medication have kept me going they haven't provided the "cure" I've so long sought. 1. Now that I'm rated is it "permanent" or will I have followup C&Ps with the VA? Do they normally reevaluate and if so how often? How will they let me know? 2. If I continue to deteriorate and my illness finally makes it impossible for me to work what do I do? How long does a rating increase application/claim take to process? I plan to work as long as I can but reality being what it is there will probably come a day when I can't. 3. Other than continuing therapy what things should I do to maintain my rating status with the VA? 4. What kind of things should I "not do" so I don't jeopardize my rating in any way? Thank you, JW
  11. I'm so happy for you after reading about your story you deserve it! JW
  12. I did obtain an IMO from Dr. David Anaise for my claim although I'm not sure now it was necessary with the other letter I had from my doctor and the C&P results. I will say though it was well written, eight pages reviewing existing records (with heavy quotations) and an opinion of "more likely than not". While Dr. Anaise is not a psychiatrist I took a chance on him as he's close to where I lived and I've read good results from his clients. I will hang onto the letter and they offered to update it at a later date if needed. The only thing I'd add is more rationale although he did reference and quote the C&P rationale in his opine comments. The letter format was an introduction with my statement, a review of certain parts of my other reports with opinions and references, some legal rationale and the opinion. The letter did mention some case law which I think is representative of the fact Dr. Anaise is also an attorney. Speaking of him being an attorney in fact when I spoke to him and another doctor in his practice they mentioned to me they would hurry my letter to me because he was going to Washington to testify at the court of veterans affairs this week. The cost was $1500 (flat fee) and delivery of the letter took about eight days total. They sent me a draft to approve and a day later sent the final eight page letter with attachment exhibits and a cv for my use. The total "package" sent to me for the IMO was 44 pages mostly made up of exhibits (my other reports). Overall I would give the letter a solid "A" grade. JW
  13. Good luck to you BroncoVet we're rooting for you! JW
  14. This brief partial exam is one of the most unusual C & P exams I have ever read for PTSD. It also reveals that a VA C & P MH doctor took considerable time to develop their opinion. Berta, To clarify this was part of the 18 page report (the ending) it's not a separate report itself. JW
  15. Berta, Yes the original report was 18 pages. I thought the doctor did an excellent job and the report was very accurate. I didn't post the whole thing because it's full of very personal information and I'm a bit paranoid. The doctor was exactly correct though in her assumptions. There were two stressors that occurred in service leading to a flashback and memories emerging so there was enough for them I guess. I was pleased it went well as it took nearly three hours for the appointment. JW
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