foleyj

Thanks mags1023, I am not being treated by the VA for depression. The depression started a few years after I started receiving benefits for my SCD's. I am not a Gulf War Veteran I enlisted just a few must after the war started to wind down. If you see from my response to LarryJ would I submit as new evidence for my existing SCD's of, or as a new claim secondary to my SCD's? Also would I need to submit copies of my medical records from the psychiatrists that have diagnosed me and prescribed medications? I have the nexus letter that the Dr filled out and he checked off that the depression is possibly related to the chronic pain. He also noted that I suffer from chronic pain due to my injuries. I have searched the site for sample letters but I have not found any, could you point me in the right direction if you know of any samples that I can refer to? Basically what I am looking for is what exactly should I put in the claim as far as symptoms, meds, lack of interest in things that I used to enjoy, etc... Any information that you can provide would be great. Thanks.

Thanks Larry. When I send the information back to the VA would I submit as new evidence for my existing SCD's of, or as a new claim secondary to my SCD's? Also would I need to submit copies of my medical records from the psychiatrists that have diagnosed me and prescribed medications?

Thanks for the response. I began receiving disability benefits in 2000 and I began the treatment for depression in 2004 as my injuries began to worsen. I have been on 2 types of medications the entire time, welbutrin and paxil. I had the psych fill out the nexus letter that I found on this site and he checked the second option under is related to. I was not treated for any time of depression or mental disorder in the service, this did not begin until after the service and all of my injuries began to worsen. Hope that answers you questions and makes things a little clearer.

Since this is my first post I will give a brief background. As you can see from the profile I have been rated at 60% for my SCD's, here is the breakdown; 20%-SCD for lower back injury, annular tear and herniation L4-L5 20%-SCD for weakness, pain and numbness or right leg 20%-SCD right shoulder, torn capsule 20%-SCD left shoulder, torn capsule I also have right and left hip bursitis secondary to the back injury that I submitted a claim for but was denied because of lack of evidence. I am also being treated for depression that started after I began receiving my disability benefits. I recently obtained documentation from my Ortho stating that the hip pain is related to my back injury. So that is something that I am going to resubmit to the VA as new evidence since it was denied previously. I also went to my psychiatrist and he filled out the nexus letter stating that the depression was possibly related to the chronic pain syndrome related to my injuries. My question is how do I proceed with the my claim as far as the depression? Should I claim depression and chronic pain syndrome, or should I claim as a separate disability? This is the first time that I have obtained documentation that diagnosis chronic pain syndrome. Also, can the psychiatrist diagnose chronic pain syndrome? Any guidance would be appreciated. Jason