Ethan'sGrandma

Ryguy, I've often thought the same thing...where is the logic in some of this stuff? I answered my own question: there is none!

Thank you all for the replies...very much appreciated! Yes, an IMO would be the best route, but I'm holding out on that due to costs. So true, Pete53 and that's exacty how I feel with my claim...been spinning my wheels! I did manage to get from the last VA Psychologist that treated me a letter with diagnosis and opinion (wow, like pulling teeth to get anything in writing there) that I submitted to VARO, but I do not know if it will suffice for VA claim purposes. Of course, I do not know if VA will accept it, or not, since I have not heard anything back from VA in quite some time. Can I post it on here and get some feedback on what may be wrong with psych's letter.? I see where many have posted that "as likely as not," and other wording seen with these matters, but she worded it as: "it is my professional opinion that you have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and that it stems from a Military Sexual Trauma." Again, thanks all for the replies!

Hello To All, I have been reviewing all of the denial SOC's that I've received from the VA to date since I am still waiting on this appeal, but I am hoping someone can help me out here with an argument in their statements that VA has made over and over which is confusing me further with the information I've been able to find on here from past posters. I went to what was the military clinic of the day with complaints of depression and anxiety, but I was not diagnosed, not sent for an evaluation, nor treated, even as the notation was made about my complaints of the symptoms. I was not sent to see the PA, but only the triage medic saw me. She only diagnosed the headache I was also complaining about. I did not know what I was doing, only what I was feeling, getting desperate enough to go on and go on sick call for it. Additionally, I felt beaten down and had learned not to insist, nor did I speak up about what had happened and continued to happen to me which is what I surmised was causing the symptoms that finally got me to go for medical. After being ignored and, soon thereafter leaving the service, I never went back to sick call for it, but the symptoms persisted. The information is checked on my exit exam. The VA has repeatedly said that none of it counts because I was not diagnosed, or treated while on active duty. Since close to that time, once I had medical care available, I have continuous mental health treatment, including inpatient hospitalizations, with different diagnoses' being assigned over the years. On past posts and in the guide section on here, I've noticed where it's also been stated that the condition had to have been treated in service and considered chronic. Yet, VA regs speak of "direct connection" when "incurred" in service. Even though incurred seems to mean "began," does that not apply for VA purposes, unless it was actually diagnosed and treated in service? I am trying to learn and understand better. I would appreciate any comments on this. Thank you very much!

lp56, I'm sorry you encountered with what appears to be an attitude from your VSO. Still, your recent find of additional "alternative" evidence is very good, so all you can do is do the best you can in presenting your case. There is still optimism, especially, considering all you have found. It will all depend on how the VA decides to interpret it. DRO is not the final process, so you still have many opportunities, which helps to remember that, I think. Now, regarding VSO and mst claims, it is good to at least be a little weary, I think, not necessarily a good thing, but it will not be a surprise if VSO is not as helpful as you would like. In my experience, mine has no clue about MST! In fact, originally he attempted to dissuade me from ever continuing with the claim, but I did anyway. The organization had already been selected as POA and I could not find another organization that would help me, once the claim was on appeal because they preferred to let the original POA continue what had been started. I was unable to change VSO within the organization because they are assigned by last names and he is the one for mine. Ridiculous, but that's not helping me any to think that. I have made contact with the National Office, but still get referred to the VSO for any questions. This guy truly does not know squat about mst, nor cares, but it's really our claim, so we are the ones that need to stay on top. My VSO wasn't even ready when I went to the hearing because I wasn't even in the computer as attending the hearing, even as I'd confirmed with him previously, and he knew about it through VA, but the staff went looking for him within the building once I arrived, so I know he never got to reviewing my file. You will be given an opportunity to speak, so you can still attempt to make your case. In my case, I took new evidence that had only recently been found, but it was not looked at right there, only turned in through VSO. I don't think this is all designed as personal because that same organization has helped vets that I know, tremendously, with a lot of involvement, but for combat related PTSD. That has made me wonder if it is the mst related PTSD issue that they are not following the equal interest with. However, we are our own best advocate, so you can still hope that you will succeed, just a matter of the VA accepting the evidence as valid and meeting all the other requirements necessary for a favorable decision. That doesn't mean that they always follow what's clearly within their laws, seems more like a subjective decision to me, but they've recently been given additional information as to how these claims should be being looked at by the newer Undersecretary which may help many of the mst claims. That will still remain to be seen how the VA will proceed, but it does offer additional hope. So, although it's not unheard of to be a bit leery about an unhelpful VSO, the evidence is what's going to matter. Best luck with your claim!

I took Risperidone for years...too many! One of the things that I was not informed about, nor remember seeing as warning, until after the fact was that I developed diabetes. That's not to say that I may well have developed, regardless, but after the fact I found out that it is also one of the medicines that carry that risk. I was on it long-term and after the fact, had to get off it. It was a good medicine for the symptoms that I was having, but I wish I'd have known about the risk.

Yes, I wouldn't envision it, either. However, VA mail does tend to, shall we say, disappear on occasion. I'd sent in my request for DRO, never got it, and before I realized it, it never happened! The VARO claimed they didn't receive my request, but they also claimed that a lot with many of my submitted information, even when I had P.O. receipts showing differently! Unfortunately, sometimes we have to check and check again to make sure that information/evidence is reconciled with the file...

Wow, but I'm not surprised by the %! I've been battling that RO since 2005 and I have no idea if I can see an end in sight! My request for BVA has not even budged...the claim still sits at VARO awaiting an SSOC since 2009 and here we are getting to 2012. Wow, just wow, but there doesn't really seem to be too much of an oversight at that particular VARO. Sheesh, I wish they would either poopy, or get off the pot!!

Hello To All, I posted a comment today, but I'm not sure I posted in right section, since I did it as a reply to a past posting by me. Can I ask one of the delightful moderators on here to please take a look when they have some time and let me know if I should have posted it somewhere else? I posted under the navigation the medical area part. Thanks very much...

Gosh, this VA stuff is so wearing me down!! Well, I know I'm not the only one, but that's no comfort to know others are having lots of issues! I went to that mh appointment that I received the strange call about...supposed evaluation to just update VA medical records since I'm not being seen through them. When I asked the psychiatrist if this is new now with our treating facility (unrequested evaluations/treatment?) he said they'd always done that. That's an outright non-truth, at least in my case, as I've gone to that clinic for many years and it's never been requested for me. I asked him if it had anything to do with the catastrophic evaluation that I had received a letter for way months back from the VAMC as someone (I have no idea who) had made the request on my behalf, after looking at my past VA mh records. Again, he said no, not related to that as it was just a general mh evaluation by a psychiatrist per VAMC request due no further mh information is available to VA since I go to private doctor. Additionally, he informed me that catastrophic would not apply since those for mh would consist of someone eating "poop," and such drastic symptoms (that is the exact word he used). Well, moving along since the appointment, I obtained the copy of that evaluation day and, indeed, it was for the catastrophic evaluation. This really riles me up because I can't figure out why in the world he saw fit the need to lie to me...a psychiatrist to boot! I knew I was suspicious about that appointment call for a reason. I can't believe they would consider that an appropriate evaluation for the requested catastrophic evaluation. All he asked was if I was seeing outside providers for mh and my meds information, nothing more. How in the world can he determine anything from that...just sounds like the lousy C&P exam that was afforded to me without absolutely no real way to measure much of anything. So, I looked up what the VA means by catastrophic which appears to include ADL's. That VA psychiatrist did not ask me not one thing that would relate to that! I am familiar with ADL's as I used to work for SSA and was responsible to assist claimants with their forms, which included for ADL's. For goodness sakes, I barely leave the house due to the agoraphia and my life is very limited due to the non-ability to maintain ADL's, so this whole deal is overwhelming, especially that there is no way that he would know that if it was not part of his questions. I've seen this before with others and I suspect that is what is playing with this whole mh stuff...if you can walk and talk, there ya go...what could possibly be wrong?! Obviously, my past mh records with VA shows the issues I am having (progress notes) which somebody, obviously, noted and made the request for the catastrophic evaluation, but he could not even be honest enough with me and inform me that the evaluation was exactly for that, not some bs story he made up, never mind that nothing leading to a possible true evaluation was had at that appointment. I was so stressed and panicked during the wait to be seen, how could he not have noticed the reality, when he was called by the receptionist lady because I was starting to flip over being in the waiting area (no body bothered to inform me that I was in the wrong mh section) that I had been told to go to, so I had to go ask her if there was going to be a further delay after I'd been there for about 40 minutes? I'd started getting way over the top with anxiety, trying to keep myself from freaking out, but couldn't hold back the distress when I asked her if I was going to be seen soon? She informed me that it was the wrong mh waiting room, called the doctor to come find me out in the hallway where I should have been waiting, but this was all new to me since the clinic was newly built, I'd never been there before and the doctor had said to me to go to mh on the appointment day. Out in the hallway, I was about to just disappear to my car and wait for my husband because so many people walking back and forth were really freaking me out, like as if in a mall during a holiday. There is a reason why I don't go shopping! Sheesh, that clinic was seriously not designed for some MST/PTSD patients in mind, but that's another story. In any case, does anybody have any suggestions what I can do about this non-proper evaluation? I am not familiar with the process since it was not me that requested anything, but I'd gotten a letter from VAMC to call for an evaluation for it. At the time I called, the woman answering told me I would be placed on a list for a later call about the evaluation which, apparently, was the call the doctor made to me, but failed to tell me what I was really being evaluated for and must have seen a need to lie to me about it. I do not expect it will be like a denial of whatever which is appealable during the required timeframe. Does any body know or have any suggestions? Thank you so much for any help...

I was told on an IRIS email response that I had to re-respond to that a message would be sent to my VARO for additional information. So, I'm surmising that just as the 800#, the IRIS go anywhere, then, if they can't find the information on the computer, they may or may not, contact VARO for further questions. That's the way it's been for me, but it doesn't really matter too much...still get the we're sorry this has taken so long (2 years now), but your appeal is awaiting an SSOC. LOL!! I have had to start laughing at this craziness because, otherwise, I must be the one losing it about this whole VA stuff, but it's not me!

Congratulations, Carlie, on being able to relax with this claim now...

Please don't feel like there's a stupid question in the quest for information. You can go to: www.archives.gov and look for the section on veteran records.

Same thought...AWESOME!!

ferris, I looked at the brochure myself now and it does talk about P&T for their educational benefits. If it were me, I'd call them and ask what they are looking for in regards to eligibility. Good luck!

ferris, Oh, goody!! This is a better link that gives all the information for benefits for Maine. The educational benefits are on there, so that would be good news for what you were looking for if your IU is not P&T at this point. Best wishes! http://www.maine.gov/dvem/bvs/benefits.htm Oops, forgot to post the link the last message...

http://www.maine.gov/dvem/bvs/VDEB_2.pdf Hello ferris, I found this on here for Maine. I don't know how current it is, but it is stating Maine does offer educational benefits for the children. You can check it out and contact them for current information. Hope this helps.

Hi There, For the VA chapter educational benefits for dependents, yes, P&T is required. Have you inquired what Maine offers, though? Some states have different requirements such as where I'm at, there is a remission of fees for state schools, which do make them free for children of disabled veterans. Wonder if that's why you were thinking along those lines?

acesup, No, I hope you do not quit. It can be discouraging, I know, but hope you never give up. I'm a little confused with your post where you say you didn't know you'd been given a personality disorder diagnosis, but later found that out? So, what does your paperwork say about the type of discharge you were given...chapter? It's not unheard of that many are given personality disorder diagnosis, but usually one would know what the wording is for the discharge. An honorable is an honorable, but documents can usually tell what went along with that. Have you obtained your C-file, or documents that the VA has for you? It seems to me, you can't fight thoroughly what you don't know, so it is important that you have that information. Your posting doesn't mention what you are requesting to be rated for, but if personality disorder is coming up, I'm surmising it's at least in part for mental? Your denial letter would have noted what evidence was used...was your conduct a part of that? It's not noted in your comment your service times, but some have been allowed to dispute the personality disorder diagnosis and discharge for that. In any case, I hope you continue to fight the decision, finding whatever evidence you need to do so that would fit with VA laws. Definitely, don't forget your timeframe for your NOD, so you give yourself the chance to continue. You can expect it won't be simple, but it doesn't mean this is the end of the line. Best wishes!

I've begun to wonder if they are looking for more people that they can say have improved? This year was really weird for me. I'd been reviewed last year and didn't expect it for at least another three, but they sent the review papers to me, again. Shoot, I wish I were improved enough...if only they knew! They turn around and say the same thing as always...for now, you are still considered disabled, or words to that effect. However, my therapist told me that a lot of her patients are getting reviewed just as frequently this year, especially, if the award was around at least 10 years back. Hmmm, must be something about the length of time? I don't know, just wondering because some people I know don't even return the form...must be hit or miss.

Hello There lp56, If you can, check your pm...

Hi There, Did you mean "as likely as not?" In your post, you've noted "as likely not," so I'm wondering if it's just a typo? "As likely as not" gives the information you'd want to see. TBI is related to traumatic brain injury. I hope this helps some for what you are asking.

lp56, It's unfortunate what happened and now having to further be stressed about your VA claim, but stay on it, including getting that NOD in timely. As I read through the thread, it seems as if a lot of the information you have is much later than the service time, if I am reading it correctly? Do you have any information that links it to service time, such as the "alternative" evidence the VA allows for these types of claims? Have you obtained a copy of your service records, including service medical records? I note where you state you received care at an Army hospital. Was that while on active duty? I ask because my service medical records were mute for my pregnancy and delivery while on active duty for which I often wondered why that information wasn't in the records. The Army hospital will not be of any help to you due to so much time passing, but you may be able to obtain information via the National Personnel Records Center. If nothing shows up for your pregnancy and/or delivery, you may need to go through your child to obtain some information. That's what I had the presence of mind to do. My child being an adult precluded my ability to request records that were for him, but he was able to obtain the records from the NPRC for me, by asking for them himself. For sure, most of my pregnancy related issues, including delivery, were filed under his name since they were in his dependent military records as he was born in a military hospital, while I was still active duty. NPRC had them listed with his name, but my social security number. Thus, I was able to obtain some of what I'd been looking for. The same could happen for you, but your adult child needs to make the request, listing your social security number. One would be surprised what the NPRC has available, but sometimes, even they need a little help to look for it. It is important, IMO, to have as much information as possible relating back to your trauma period and the VA will not always obtain records, even if given all the information. It took me years to finally get inpatient records from NPRC that the VA never obtained and NPRC claimed to not have, but I persisted, eventually somebody did the extra and found those records for me. Additionally, did you obtain a copy of your C&P exam to know exactly how it was worded? Regarding your journal entries...you may have to resend a copy of those pages, with highlights to the other information that you say is noted there, especially about the forced sex and other pertinent issues, not just what was noted by the representative. I have found that, sometimes, they don't always read as what is written, unless it's pointed out. Mostly, don't give up on your claim and send whatever evidence you have, sending the information with certified mail, return receipt requested, so it doesn't just get lost in the shuffle. Good luck with your claim...

Thank you very much, Berta. Actually, the information that I listed came from the CVAC decision, but don't know if it's correct since I couldn't find it on their website. Very good idea and I will call the attorney's office and see what I can gather. This was a very good case for "aggravation" of what the VA said was pre-existing which ended up as a granting. Thank you, again, so very much.

Hello To All, I've been trying to find a case on the USCAVC, but have been unable to find it directly on their website. Perhaps I am doing something wrong, although I've tried all the information. There is no name of veteran, only of attorney Michael J. Kelley. Can anyone please help with finding this case? Thank you very much. The information as per a copy that I found somewhere else from the internet, but can't find on court website: Citation Number: 0727295; decision date: 08/30/07; archive date: 09/11/07; Docket Number: 04-31 816A

Hello Pete53, Thank you for the response. No, I've not entered anything on there...everything on there is from VA. It's listing information directly from them and not showing all tests, which was one of the reasons why I requested the records because it seemed odd to me. They were not available in my records copy, though, nor any information noted about any pcp visits in the file, either.