Jump to content
VA Disability Community via Hadit.com

VA Disability Claims Articles

Ask Your VA Claims Question | Current Forum Posts Search | Rules | View All Forums
VA Disability Articles | Chats and Other Events | Donate | Blogs | New Users

Broken Cat

Seaman
  • Posts

    6
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

Broken Cat last won the day on February 21 2018

Broken Cat had the most liked content!

About Broken Cat

Recent Profile Visitors

The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.

Broken Cat's Achievements

  1. @andyman73 Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry I didn't see it til now. I assembled my claim, including police report, subsequent sentencing report that includes mention of his misconduct in service, my in service treatment records, and current nexus letter. Plus whatever VA forms. That was April 5. The requested and got a release on April 10. I completed my C&P exams on April 18 and 19. I guess, now we just wait.
  2. I became a private investigator and worked my way into some pretty good databases and resources. Not the healthiest hobby, but it served its purpose. As far as the Mantra. That's a good idea. I do think I'm gonna wait to deal with it til I have someone that can sit and read it with me. My husband is a font of support, but there's a lot I don't want him envisioning.
  3. "(1) If the evidence establishes a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder during service and the claimed stressor is related to that service, in the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, and provided that the claimed stressor is consistent with the circumstances, conditions, or hardships of the veteran's service, the veteran's lay testimony alone may establish the occurrence of the claimed in‐service stressor." So, this is a 2008 rule change. I was told it would happen, by my trauma counselor, and it did. My medical and service records were purged of specific documentation, that are on the "evidence of stressor" (not alternative evidence) list. Buuuut, my counselor did hand me the original copies of my trauma counseling, that diagnosed me. There are also several statements in my medical records from subsequent evals, stating that I held a d/x for PTSD relating to assault. One jerk even went into great detail. It would seem, that this meets the above criteria, even though the above rule change was probably more for OIF/OEF combat vets. I'm hoping this is the case, because, while I have alternative evidence like civilian police records and witness statements corroborating everything... I even have financial records... I'd like to keep this as streamlined as possible. I worry that this will end up on Sloppy Carl's desk and "too much" documentation will get me rubber stamped and I'll end up having to litigate for IU.
  4. Thank you. It does help. I'm very aware of how fortunate I've been to have a support system that has been willing to adjust for me. All, without ever asking why. We're a small group, but they keep me in the world, but insulate me from the world; if you know what I mean. I have found purpose, but still struggle with pulling it off. I'm really good at what I do and know it. Which, normally makes a person seem passionate or cocky. In me, well... I'm memorable. So, I'm still figuring out how to do that the "right way." Yesterday a detective called to tell me my police report would be here Friday. I wasn't expecting that. I kind of wanted to tell him to look those folks up and see how bad they effed up. I just thanked him and hung up. Then, I reallized, I'd have to read that. It's one thing to relive it from my own perspective. To assume the perception of others... but this is different. I don't think I can open it. And, of course my contacts at the vet center can't be reached and I don't have an outlet to discuss this, rationalize and compartment it til later. The AL lady i was referred to hasn't replied to me, it's been days. It just sucks. I want this done and out of my life already.
  5. Update: The DAV couldn't help but put me in contact with a local vet center, who is working with me to start counseling. My new shrink is VA employed and specializes in MST. Since they're by the Navy base, they're going to work on seeing me off site. They also have a MST guru they know of at the AL that might be able to help. So far, the concensus is that my claim should be a cake walk since I have evidence, letters, and an in-service diagnosis. I do need to get re-evaluated, since I don't have records of my counseling and evaluations after service. I went to great lengths to seek out counseling orgs that didn't keep records, were free or cash only, and were super secretive. I already explained this to the shrink I'll be seeing, and she is familiar with the folks I went to. So, I think that's a good sign and should lend credibility to her evaluations. Thank you both for the input. I'm taking y'alls advice and prepping my claim independently and gonna see how it compares to what the AL people suggest. Right now, I have everything in hand except the police report, which I sent off for last week, an independent evaluation/nexus letter. Which... i have no idea how long i have to see this shrink to get. In the past, I've been dx'd with PTSD, anxiety, chronic adjustment disorder, agoraphobia, and dissociative disorder. The first 2 by everyone and the last 3 at different times. Since I only have the ptsd and anxiety on paper, should I bring up the others? In the past when i found out these guys met with bad ends or prison, i always felt vindicated. I hoped that the people, who looked the other way, saw it and knew they were wrong. Everytime, I kind of felt a little "cured." It never lasted and my mind found new ways to keep me chained. Right now, I feel myself building up to that again. Like if I go through all this and the VA gives me my perfect world rating, it'll be this big crowning moment that tells everyone how wrong they were. I'm a little worried that if it doesn't go perfectly, it'll be irreparable. I'm gonna make sure my shrink knows. My hubby does. We're working on an action plan to keep my moving and coping, with a contingency for the worst case scenario. It helps, but I'm still scared.
  6. I am in the process of putting together a claim package for mental health issues related to MST. Try as I might, I cannot find a VSO with experience in my situation. It's taken me years to accept that I need help and that I need to address this once and for all, so when I say that I cannot handle doing this twice (submitting a sub par claim and then doing appeals) I really mean it. From day to day, I vacillate between thinking my problems are actually other people's inability to cope OR feeling like there is no point to me and that I'm a burden.If it weren't for the whole not being able to pay bills and risking alienating my kids for all eternity, I'd be perfectly content letting the world turn while I hang out at home and being maladjusted and mean. In my perfect world, there would be a check list of things to submit for a fully developed claim. On this checklist, there would be a list of key phrases or high points that would help sway the decision makers into awarding adequate compensation. I haven't been able to find anyone that has had success doing this with a case like mine. I have police reports from the MST. I have trauma counseling records and AD medical records that clearly state a d/x for PTSD related to rape on X date. My counseling sessions identified dissociation behaviors, PTSD, and anxiety. One doctor even noted that I was combative and stated that I wished harm on my attackers. Obviously, the Navy handled this clear cut case of rape, with evidence and my complete cooperation, like they do any scandal. They buried it and came after me. That might be a secondary stressor, but I've been warned that claiming a secondary stressor could hose up everything and to keep my mouth shut? kind of amazing that the advice that is meant to help, sounds a lot like the advice that sent me careening out of control all those years ago. Anyhow, I survived, got married, got out, and went in and out of counseling. Over the years, I've been diagnosed with PTSD, Chronic Depression, Chronic Adjustment Disorder, Agoraphobia, Generalized anxiety Disorder, and Dissociation Disorder. I don't trust military medicine or the government, so most of my counseling was done through non-profit organizations and women's shelters. They're so secretive, that I felt it'd be safe to tell them what I went through and my statements wouldn't end up in the Navy's summary of Mishaps... again. So, I don't really have records of those, except for prescriptions that were reported to Tricare. I do have my civilian medical records. It has page after page of doctors complaining that I broke down, was combative, emotional etc, etc. I do have a few sessions with shrinks at MTFs in the last couple years. They were not keen on actual diagnostics, they just gave me the pills I asked for. I'm shopping shrinks to assess me and give diagnosis. I'm not sure I need a nexus letter, but I'm thinking it wouldn't hurt. I have a letter from my ex boss describing how my work performance plummeted over the years and how he made accommodations to keep me on. I also have a letter from me, describing my bad days and my rituals to get through them. My husband and his best friend were witnesses to the fallout of my rape, in terms of the military's response to me. They can verify in statements that I did report it and go into counseling. They can also verify that I'm socially isolated and very codepenedent on them to meet new people or get involved in activities. I don't have a single friend that they didn't make for me, first. I do not know how to people. I don't have friends from work. I don't have "my own" friends from church. I don't even have people who like me well enough, and include me in things, without my husband and his best friend acting as intermediaries. oh, I also have the most recent sentencing transcripts for the ringleader of my attackers. The judge stated that he felt this dude was unrepentant and a monster. He cited his past sex crimes, "both in the record and that didn't make it to trial" and his history of convincing others to help him conceal his crimes. If that's not a shout out from the bench, I don't know what is. Anyhow, I guess my question is, has anyone here done a fully developed MST claim with multiple bullet points for anxiety, phobia, ptsd, and depression, and get 100% or at least, a high enough rating to qualify for unemployability? Without having to go through appeals and lawyers? Was a police report enough, even if the military dropped it? Should I give the C&P my evidence, letters, and my personal statement too? I'm sure I have 1000 more questions, but I'm mostly looking for someone who has done what I'm trying to do.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use