MarshOIF2003

Hello, Applied for Tinnitus, Hearing Loss & Post Status left knee arthroscopy last July. Went to all C&P exams, waited and was given 10% for Tinnitus, 10% for knee & nothing for hearing loss. They put hearing loss not service connected. This year I applied for PTSD & Secondary Sleep Apnea. Went to all C&P exams. Was told by psychologist that I “DID” have PTSD. Have been waiting for 3 months and status has changed to “Pending Decision Approval”, the final stage. BUT, for some reason without me asking for a R.E.-evaluation for the Tinnitus, Knee & hearing loss, they have “R.E.-opened” the hearing loss, and on Ebenefits it states that they are increasing Tinnitus which I thought could not go any higher than 10%, increasing the Knee, and increasing scars on knee from the surgery which I was originally given a 0% service connection. The PTSD and Sleep Apnea which are the 2 new claims have been merged together with all of these but have not been given a rating yet because it is pending decision approval. Why would they re-open hearing loss if they said it wasn’t service connected a year ago and why would they have the word “increase” next to Tinnitus if I’ve already been given the max of 10% a year ago? Why would they have increase next to the knee from 10% if I didn’t ask for an increase and why would they have increase next to “scars on left knee” when they originally gave me 0% service connection?

I am a 15 year post OIF Marine combat infantry veteran Seargent. I lived for 15 years in denial about having PTSD symptoms never listening to my loved ones and too proud to ever try and receive disability compensation. Finally after 1 divorce and another marriage on the verge of divorce and years of drinking my wife convinced me to go to a mental health therapist where after only 2 sessions I was told that I suffer from PTSD and congratulated on having lived with it for 15 years on my own with no help. Also, I felt like I haven’t slept a good night sleep in years because I’m constantly feeling remorse, guilt and paranoia and went to a sleep clinic where I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea and given a CPAP machine. I served in Iraq during OIF alongside Gunnery SGT. Jack Coughlin in the most forward infantry battalion during the invasion and participated and witnessed all of the fighting all the way to Baghdad and was there when the saddam statue was toppled. After speaking with my local VA Rep, he explained that because I had a knee surgery in the military and that I complain of constant ringing in the ears and headaches that he would set me up with a C&P exam to discuss the issues. After the exam, about 3 months later I was awarded 10% service connection for my knee & 10% service connection for Tinnitus. Then he filed a claim for PTSD and sleep apnea as a result of PTSD because I was able to get all the notes from the sessions and paperwork from my mental health therapist where she put her “diagnoses” of PTSD and depression, etc., he scanned all of that and sent it down range to VA headquarters and told me to wait about 60 days. Has anyone had a similar situation with the PTSD & sleep apnea and what is to be expected next? Is there another C&P exam for both, even though I have a diagnoses from a private therapist? If so, what is the C&P exam for this going to be like?. Thank you to all of you who have served! OoRah & Sempra Fi!