Ethan'sGrandma

Thank you, again, Carlie, for your input. My claim is also MST which is why I didn't post the actual personal stuff in the website...can't deal with that idea, yet. Yes, it's gone on quite some time and I'd just like for the VA to get it moving to the BVA, if they are not going to reconsider any evidence, so I can get on the docket, before too many more years go by. I sent them the latest reports from my doctors (both VA and civilian) just a couple of days ago and am confident that they are favorable to my claim, but doesn't mean VA will agree. Today I phoned the 800# to see if I could obtain a status and suffice it to say the lady answering must not have been having a very good day, even as I was courteous, respectful, and what have you. She did clarify for me the actual date of my Form 9 appeal, being much longer than I thought, without searching through the masses of papers that I have regarding this claim, never mind that exact dates are not part of my memory now. I thought it'd been 1-1/2 years, but her records show it was submitted in 2007. When asked why my claim has not moved to BVA, she stated that VA is not sending any more cases to BVA because they are swamped? I'm aware that the whole system is backlogged, but can this be true? I am out of Indiana, and am lucky to get through to the 800#, not even ever close to getting the Service Center Manager on the phone to speak to him. The RO is about 3-1/2 hours from me, so no real chance of me paying a visit in person, even if somebody were willing to talk to me. I made the trip back in July, 2009 for the RO hearing, but would not think to attempt that again. since it was an additional hardship to me whose agoraphobia is coming back again, more and more, so can't imagine further risk with what I consider such a longer trip than just making it to my local appointments. Tomorrow, I have an appointment with my Vet Center counselor, who has stated she will also prepare a packet for me from my visits there to send to VA as additional evidence. I don't know how VA will view any more information than they've already gotten, but it can't hurt, since it was there that I was given written tests regarding the issues. Well, don't know where this claim will end up, never can be sure, but will persist and not give up this fight, until the end of my life, or until my claim reaches the highest level of appeals and I am still denied. It's not supposed to be a fight, but it feels that way to me because much of the stuff they needed is there, but it's either been omitted, or disregarded, which feels like being invalidated some more, but am gonna keep at it. I'm grateful for this website and what I can learn from others, such as yourself. Thank you much, Carlie, for all your input.

Hello and Thank You for your response, again, Carlie. I am going to post on here some of what's written in my latest SSOC. My copier is not functioning, so I can't copy to here, so will type in the pertinent sections. The last SSOC is dated from Sep., 2009. After a NOD for that, due to some missed information, it triggered a C&P exam for me in Feb., 2010. I will omit some very personal information from it, due I am not able to have it on a public website. Also, some notes in parenthesis are mine. If you get a chance to view this, or comment, I'd appreciate it. Thank you very much. DECISION: Service connection for PTSD and depression is denied. Reasons and Bases: A statement of the case was issued on August 8, 2008, advising you of the evidence considered and the reasons and bases for the denial of service connection for PTSD (abbreviated by me) and depression. You stated that you felt your complete file was not reviewed because your request for reassignment was not noted in the Statement of The Case dated August 8, 2008. Review of DA Form 4187...noted you volunteered for Foreign Service which was disapproved due to shortage of personnel within your unit. Treatment records from...noted that you had been suffering from major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe with psychotic features, and a schizoaffective disorder for years (VA missed the PTSD diagnosis, also, from medical records). It was noted that you were medically retired retired from...on March 1, 1996. Treatment records from...Army Hospital for the period 1/83 through 4/83 noted...that you had depression, anxiety, were unable to cope, and episodes of obsessive ideation toward your children. You also had thoughts of self harm, and were hospitalized. Statement dated May 21, 2009, from...noted that she had known you since Spring 1977. Ms....noted that you had confided with her about...Ms....attested "you did not sound the same after..., as you had entered into anxiety and depression." At your hearing...you reported that your stressful event while in the military was...You reported that you had complained of anxiety and depression to the TMC in 1979, but it was a PFC and nothing was done. You reported that was the only time you were treated for anxiety in service. (my military exit exam also notes the issues I was still having). You reported the actual treatment for anxiety and depression started in 1982. Although DA Form 4187...noted that you volunteered for foreign services, there was still no evidence of increased use of leave with no immediate reason, changes in performance evaluations, or disregard for military or civilian authority (parts of this last sentence were rebutted in the NOD before the C&P was scheduled). Also, there was no documented treatment for, or diagnosed mental disability shown in your service treatment records. The claim for service connection for PTSD and depression remains denied. From the previous SSOC in August, 2008 which connect to the Sep, 2009 one: Decision: Service connection for PTSD and Depression is denied. Reasons and Bases: Service connection for PTSD may be granted when the following criteria has been met: There is medical evidence diagnosing the condition in accordance with the guidelines established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association; There is evidence that shows a link between current symptoms and in-service stressor; and there is credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred. You report that you have PTSD and Depression as a result of...trauma that occurred while you were in the military. In your stressor statement you indicated that you experienced...trauma from...Your statements regarding the...trauma are plausible, however to service connect PTSD there must be credible evidence to support your assertion that the stressful events occurred. This does not mean that the evidence must actually prove that the incident occurred, but rather that the weight of evidence is positive to the extent that a reasonable doubt is shown. The complete evidence of record was reviewed. There was no evidence available from sources such as civilian police reports, reports from crisis intervention centers, testimonial statements from family members (yes, statement from family member and treating social worker, but not noted here, although family member statement noted later in SSOC). or clergy, and no copies of personal journal or diary entries from you. Available medical evidence notes history of bipolar and schizoaffective disorder in 2002, when you began to receive care at the VAMC (again, missed the PTSD diagnosis from prior to VA care). In 2002 you also reported that...In 2006 your mother wrote a letter stating that she baby sat for your first child in 1979 and could recall having conversations with you indicating that you confided in her of... Indicators of behavioral changes or "markers" as they are sometimes referred, are often clues which assist in determining whether the preponderance of evidence provides that a traumatic incident occurred. For the purposes of reviewing the evidence regarding a claimed..., any changes in behavior while on active duty subsequent to the claimed...are considered. The DA201 service personnel file was negative for findings of sudden requests for change in MOS or duty assignment (It was there as I found it when VA sent me a copy of file after my request for the copy), increased use of leave with no immediate reason (rebutted this statement), changes in performance evaluations, or disregard for military or civilian authority. ...Your Service Medical Records were also considered. There was no documented treatment for, or diagnosed mental health disability noted in your SMRs (I was never treated for my chief complaint, nor referred to Psych. for the symptoms). It is noted on April 9, 1979, that you reported being nervous and depressed. You were assessed to have a tension headache, and treated for this, with no further changes in behavior, or any additional unexplained medical or psychiatric episodes noted prior to your discharge (it was noted in my exit exam from service which followed later that year). After a review of the behavioral indicators with all the available stressors, there remains no positive weight of evidence to support the conclusion of a stressor while in military service...The service personnel file provided negative findings regarding your period of military service (the missed items), including after the reported episodes of...There were no sudden changes in performance, and you received no adverse counseling or disciplinary actions. The service medical records contained no findings of any unexplained physical phenomenon or psychiatric symptomatology (wrong information here since that was the reason for my visit to the TMC). Although there is one notation, documented in your SMRs, where you reported nervousness and depression, the date of the report is noted to be at the time that your mother was ill and unable to care for your infant child, and you were seeking a hardship discharge (VA got the dates of the SMRs report wrong although clearly noted in the SMR, as well as my request for reassignment, which came before my mother's illness, which had nothing to do with what happened to me prior to, or my request for discharge later). Without credible supporting evidence of a claimed stressor during military service and a link between the evidence and a diagnosis of PTSD (I already carried the diagnosis of PTSD for years, which VA missed from my medical files, which I re-sent to them and pointed it out from my personal copies with my NOD), the claim of service connection must be denied.

Thank you, Carlie, for the response. Yes, she did provide a nexus. and noted the stressors that led to the diagnosis. Additionally, she noted how it still affects my life now, including my unemployability. Yes, I don't want to get paranoid into thinking that RO is holding my file on purpose, seeing as they have huge loads of cases, but it makes no sense to me why they are still holding on to it. In your experience, why would they hold on to a file that's been with them probably for more than 1-1/2 years with the form 9, 5+ years at the RO level, yet it does not seem to be moving anywhere else? Months ago, I sent an iris request for status and all I got back was that it was awaiting an SSOC and that appeals can take a very long time. I suppose when I sent in the form 9, I was presuming they would do whatever other development they needed to do and move to have it certified for BVA, if they were not going to reconsider any of my evidence, but that has apparently not happened. Actually, much of the medical that they needed would have already been in my private medical records that VA had access to, whether I sent them, or they could have requested, but that's where I believe a lot of this hold up started. They did not request records going back years, but more recently, although I noted to them those records were available, but were not noted in their original evidence list, so their claim was that I could not prove I'd been in treatment back further than they were conceding to. Additionally, the National Records Center seemed unable to find older records for me going way back, but I hit a lucky strike some time later, with somebody that must have done a real in-depth search, thankfully, at my persistence because the records magically appeared right before I went to the RO hearing where I had the opportunity to turn those in. Even so, verbatim, all of the SSOC sound pretty much the same as the original SOC, with not much change to them. Also, my SMR do note my complaints of the symptoms/signs that were already present, but the VA's response to that in the original SOC was that I had not received a diagnosis and they tried to assign the complaints to something else going on in my life at the time, which I was able to rebut because their information was wrong, as shown by an official form in my service records, dated differently than they were assuming, even though I obtained that form directly from them. I did not have any of my military personnel records until I obtained them from VA, after my claim was submitted and I requested them, yet they missed a very important document in my records that they had at their disposal. I realize that they are very busy, but if they don't catch it, yet can make a set statement that there is nothing in my files, then there would be something very wrong with that picture. Yes, I am aware that the BVA will take years, but if the RO is not doing anything with my claim, I am yet to understand why I would need to wait any longer to get my claim to BVA, to be assigned for future review, if I've already waited years at the RO level with no foreseen movement, one way or the other. Simply makes no sense to me. I do appreciate your input. Thank you.

Hello To All, I posted some time back about C&P exam contradicting matters of record. The C&P was done back in February, 2010 and I've as yet to hear anything back from the VA regarding my NOD from their last SSOC, nor my disagreement with the C&P exam. The VA doctor doing the C&P did not concede PTSD, nor seemed to have looked at my file, since he noted erroneous information on the C&P. For example, I have not been employed or employable since 2000, but he stated that few hours were lost at work? Well, that made no sense to me, among other items, since if he'd looked at my file, he'd have known that I do not work, plus receive SSA disability benefits. Actually, most of the stuff he stated on the C&P exam he must have been guessing at since he didn't ask this veteran about any of it, just assumed? In any case, the C&P exam copy blew my mind, but I am not sure how the VA will view that, in light of the fact that they also are aware that I am on SSA, and unemployable, yet the doctor made a wrong statement on that. Surely, I cannot imagine what is going on if a VA C&P examiner made statements that do not coincide with my claim, nor my file. Additionally, I've had a diagnosis for PTSD for years from private care, but the VA did not note that in my file or their evidence, so I sent them an older treatment statement from a doctor that I found in my own records, although they should have had that, already, since I'd sent them everything that I had. I know that they want up-to-date information, so I suspected they were not going to accept that for present care, even as they have my present treatment records, which also show PTSD, so I'm thinking that's why they wanted the C&P. Recently, I've been able to obtain more information that I think is favorable for my claim, but have no clue as to how the VA will look at it. Actually, my claim is on appeal, waiting for sending to BVA, but the RO still is holding on to it, I have no clue why. My claim is ongoing since 2005, so I'm presuming that the longer the RO holds on to it, the longer it will be before I ever get another decision. After my last posting, I made it over to the Vet Center, where the counselor there has been very helpful, including with my VA claim. For example, there were some things I'd left out since they already seemed related to what my claim is for, but I didn't even know that it could be important, especially if it could be verified by the unit's CQ log, if available. Additionally, she referred me back to the VA MH clinic where I'd once been a patient, since my insurance was not cooperating with paying claims for therapy, claiming I'm as good as I'm going to get, with no improvement showing. After appealing their decision, they are now back to paying for my care, so I was able to return to private care. However, before leaving VA treatment, I asked for and received from the treating VA psychologist, a letter for the VA with diagnosis, treatment, etc., so I am wondering how VA will look at this newer information from one of their own? In my years of dealing with this, it's not been often that I've found too much acknowledgment from them, even as they've had records to review that have the information they need, even fitting their own rules, but still got denied. I can't even imagine how they could view that erroneous C&P exam in direct opposition to the treating psych's opinion. She did diagnose me with PTSD and states that, in her professional opinion, it is related to my military service. Additionally, I did obtain from my private doctors, also, a letter for current/past diagnosis', also including PTSD, and past and current treatment through their practice. I would not consider it an IMO, though, since they did not review my military/VA files, but it is a clear contradiction to what the VA C&P examiner noted. I would appreciate any comments, if anyone has any, or any words of wisdom that can further enlighten me as I move forward with my appeal. Thank you to all and good evening!

SSDI has a waiting period. For example, I was approved for mine in November of one year, but was not eligible for an actual benefit check until May. That information should be in any award letter you received. For SSI, there is not, so if one qualifies for SSI (income and resources based program), one can get the back pay for that, while waiting to be eligible for the actual benefit check for SSDI. Also, people can receive both benefits at the same time, depending on the amounts of their SSDI. For example, someone I know receives around $350.00 for SSDI because of not that long a work history, and other computation methods used, so she also receives SSI, which brings her total benefit amount to at least what SSI benefit is. I'm not sure what that amount is today, but it can be found at their website, to give a better idea of amounts, if SSDI is not at least as much as SSI, to allow one to better estimate for oneself what one may be looking at. I hope this helps.

Hello All, I received a copy of my C&P and it blows my mind!! The doctor had asked very little questions, none seemed pertinent, but he sure came up with a lot of answers, without any true knowledge, nor an apparent true review of the file, even though he notes he did a review of it. Additionally, he did not concede the PTSD, even though it is one of the reasons for my ongoing treatment outside of the VA. What really bothers me is that he put so much erroneous information in the exam report, it almost seems as if falsifying information, to make it all fit. For example, I have not worked since 2000, receiving SSA disability, but he notes "Employment: time lost from work--few hours...mild effect on social functioning and no effect on employment." That statement alone should speak volumes even to the VA who is aware that I am on disability that there is something seriously wrong with the exam, never mind all the other outright errors (lies) the doctor could not have possibly gotten from information from me, or my file. Of course, I've not heard anything more from them regarding the pending appeal. What boggles my mind is...why? Why would a doctor make a report that, obviously, does not even fit the record? Wow, that is scary for even the new regs regarding PTSD if determined by a VA doctor. Obviously, by this example, a doctor can say pretty much anything they want, even when it's not matching what is already on record. So, how are we to dispute it? I have sent the VA a letter making note of what is contradictory, stating the exam was inadequate, and requesting another exam. Only time will tell if it will be arranged since it took six months just to be able to get a copy of the exam report. So, does anyone have any experience in matters such as this? If so, what is the usual protocol? Will the VA go by this flawed exam, regardless of what else is on record? I am so upset about this, I'd like to send a copy, a copy of the contradictions of the exam with matters already of record, to the top VA man and ask how do they allow this? How do they allow a doctor like this to examine veterans? In any case, thanks much for any information anybody can share with me.

There was not a dependent's benefit with SSI and I don't believe that has changed. That would be with SSDI, which is not the same program, except for the determination of disabilities from DDS (Disability Determination Section).

What does the separate account for this money involve? Are you required to have a representative payee, or no? I used to work for them, but it's been some time, so not up to date on what may be different now, but there's a lot of information on their website: www.SSA.gov What I do remember, for the SSI, is since this is an income/resources based program, they are looking to see what you're responsible for paying for allowed expenses, such as rent, utilities, etc. From what I remember, if one is living with someone else, it is best to have one's own share of the rent, not be living rent free, and meals separately, or they would figure the amounts due to be less. If you have your own place, that should not be a problem. It is a requirement for the benefit amount to be figured out by them, before they will put you into pay status, so just take whatever receipts you may have. If you have children, they used to require proof of school attendance, if school age. Depending on the claims representative, it should not be too long before you have your money. I know it's so difficult to wait, but it's just a process that they require, so it'll be over soon. Good luck to you!!

Thanks for the responses...really appreciate it. Berta, As I remember, my SSDI included the depression, but can't remember if the PTSD was included. I got approved on the first round, so did not have to go into any further details with that claim. The VA had never sent for those records before now, but it made me wonder, after the fact, and after the C&P because the VA doctor did ask about any physical medical illnesses and I do have diabetes now. However, I was not diagnosed with that when I applied for SSDI, but it made me wonder if VA was now interested in those records, to verify what my SSDI involved. Actually, my doctor believes the meds I was taking for the mental stuff could be a contributing factor to the diabetes, but that is not part of any claims. The SSA claim was only for the mental, so nothing else is on there, including the skin condition, since there would have been no reason for me to include that in a SSA claim. The VA did question the stressor because they failed to look in my SMR for the "other" evidence allowed on my type of claim. Mine is an in-service continuous assault, not reported to the command, but symptoms were addressed to the Troop Clinic I was assigned to go to, also noted in my exit exam, but never specifically treated, since I left the service soon after. Some of the "other" evidence they will accept is in my file, which I pointed to them when they were not considered part of the evidence because I did not have my copies at the time I made my claim. Once I received my copies, I see where the evidence is in the SMR. I don't know if that's finally why the last SSOC I received no longer had the PTSD, nor depression, noted...only the skin condition. Shortly after that is when they sent me for the C&P, but no, I have not as of yet obtained the exam copy. I never applied for anything with them over the years because I'd heard just how difficult the system was, so did not want to be distressed further, plus did not have a need until now. The VA did not appear to do a thorough review of my file, nor anything I'd sent to them because they refused to even acknowledge my treatment in civilian life time frame, even though they had access to those records, but the time frame they were looking at did not jive with the file. I've been in treatments not too long after I left the service, but mostly through military service, since I married my now husband and was using military care as a spouse for many years. My outpatient records for all that period are gone, I don't have them, nor does the records center have them. However, over time I was able to track down some inpatient records from military spouse times, going back many years, which does show the continuity for a long time, so they acknowledge the mental health treatment going back for years, but then still denied, even though I was then able to prove that my treatment was in fact began at a much earlier period than they had acknowledged in prior SSOC's. One of the basis for their denial on the first SOC was that I could not prove that I'd received mental treatments prior to 2002, which was definitely not the case and they had access to those medical records from my present civilian provider, which I've been going to since around 1994,up until I lost my health insurance. At that time, I started going to the VA clinic for my health care, which is where I gather they got the 2002 time period, then went back to the civilian provider when I had insurance again. Those copies of the inpatient records through military health care became part of the record at the time of my hearing at the RO, which was shortly after I was finally able to obtain them, through my VA primary doctor, from the records center. The wording they used for the denial in the last SSOC was that, although, some items (such as a request for re-assignment) were in the SMR, and my active duty medical files has notations of complaints of depression/anxiety during the claimed periods, I was not diagnosed prior to my exit from the service. Actually, I went there and the triage PFC never sent me to the doctor/psyche, only treated me for "headache," even as she made the notation in my file of the symptoms I was complaining about. The protocol back in the day, at least for us, was to go to the TMC, triaged by the medics there and one did not get to see the PA or anybody else, unless referred by them. So, the next best thing that I thought to do was submit for a re-assignment overseas to remove myself from the situation of trauma that I was under, but it was denied due to staffing levels. It never occurred to me to take my problems to the command, more out of fear/shame of what I don't know, in hindsight. Shortly after that, I left the service on a hardship discharge not related to the in-service stressor and removed myself from my assaulter. The VA seems to be looking for other areas that don't fit me, as if the entire paragraph of the law for accepted "other" evidence for in-service personal assaults has to fit, before they will allow it, although much of that did not/does not apply to me. For example, drugs/alcohol nor problematic behavior, or criminal actions have never been a part of my life as an adult, but they included it in their wording. At my age, I've never even had a traffic ticket, but have had continuous mental issues/treatments, never been/felt the same since that period on active duty, so I don't get that they assign behaviors to everybody the same. Actually, the person I tend to disregard is myself, not the authorities. Additionally, they worded that I did not have requests for leave as, obviously, they could not have reviewed my 214, since it clearly notes that I was charged with excess leave upon my leaving the service. There was no other leave to be had. In my rebuttal, I highlighted the item on my 214, highlighted other material I sent them, but have gotten no other acknowledgment of anything, besides the notice for the C&P and now their message through the IRIS system. I cannot scan the actual SSOC because my scanner is not working at the moment, but I've paraphrased what they'd said in the denial. Everything that I searched for as needed has been sent to them, so that's why I don't know what more to do with my claim. That is the reason why I thought I would post on here and see if anyone had any ideas. Again, thank you very much for your responses.

Hello, Thank you very much for this available forum. I hope somebody on here can clarify some stuff for me which I find very distressing in my dealings with the VA to date. A little background and I will attempt to summarize. I have three denied claims pending: PTSD, Depression, and Skin Disorder. I went to a hearing at the Indiana RO, which turned out to be a waste of time, not to mention expenses, to make it there. Nothing came of it, but yet another denial, another SSOC with just the wording changed a little bit, but still said the same thing as all the others. Still, none of my evidence seemed to matter, nor was my claim ever reviewed previously by a DRO, as per my request, prior to that hearing. The VA's claim was that I never requested a DRO (claimed non-receipt of request), just as they terminated my appeal for failure to respond on time, but re-opened the claim when I showed proof positive that it was, indeed, a timely appeal, since I kept my copy of USPS receipt of appeal sent and received by them when sent overnight express, for better paper trail. So much stuff sent to them claimed as non-received, so it was the only thing I could think of to do, to ensure they could not, again, say they didn't get my paperwork. My last SSOC was back in Sept., 2009, to which I responded promptly. There were so many errors and assumptions in it that it almost blew my mind as to where do they get their information? Is it even my claim they are truly looking at? I responded to it and added that I wanted my claim to proceed to BVA (I'd previously submitted the required form). They send me the form, again, for that with another SSOC, but this time it omitted the PTSD and depression, but only noted the denial for the skin condition. I sent in the appeal form, noting all the claims/conditions, and expected the claim to be wrapped up and sent to BVA. Instead, in January, 2010 I get a letter from VA that I will be receiving an appointment from my local VAMC for a C&P exam. I actually never got notice of said appointment, but called the appointment phone number and found out there was a pending exam, which I verified by calling the C&P office directly, and I attended in February, 2010. What threw me for more confusion was why they were now sending me for a C&P exam for the mental stuff after I'd sent in the Form 9, since this claim has been pending since 2005? I'm sorry if I sound paranoid, but wondered if they were just fixing up their end before sending to BVA since my claim had, obviously, not been developed properly. I say that because from the start, they knew I have SSDI, but never bothered to send for those records, many dates they came up with on their SSOC's do not jive with reality, even as my records have been made available to them, and even forms in my SMR were disregarded by them, until I pointed them out, once I obtained my own copies of those. Shortly after the exam, I found out that now they were holding off, awaiting medical records from my SSA files. The exam itself was rather ordinary, lasted about 10 minutes, and I have no clue how the VA doctor could possibly know too much from the information he was asking, mostly family background stuff and continually asking if I was doing much better now, despite my diagnosis'? I go to outside psychs, have done so for a very long time, but still have ongoing mental issues. The exam was pretty much terminated when he asked me again if I was doing much better now, since I've not gone back to the hospital recently, and I responded my phobia about hospitals just make things worse, so am not going voluntarily there again, if I can help it, but have continuing suicide ideations, which my treating doctor is aware of, but have no specific plans. At that point, the VA doctor said we were done with the exam. That left me wondering what exactly he was looking for, but that was the end of that. So, I sent an IRIS request recently, asking about my claim's status. Today, I receive a response noted to be from one of the managers there (that's the title in the email response) saying my claim is awaiting a "secondary statement of claim to be prepared. The appeals process can be very lengthy. You will be notified by U.S. mail when a decision has been made on your appeal." Actually, I found the wording rather odd, since I believe SSOC stands for Supplemental Statement of Case, but okay, that can't be that important, but coming from a manager there, it still seems rather odd. So, I am assuming this just sounds like another SSOC will soon be arriving, meaning another denial. That's where my confusion deepens with my claim. At what point will the SSOC's stop coming and they will send my claim to the BVA? I've noted that many advice that it's best to keep the claim file at RO for as long as possible, making rebuttals/arguments about facts, but I don't feel like I have gotten anywhere with that, besides finally getting that C&P scheduled. If they are just going to send me another SSOC, it would seem to me that was for naught, also? I understand, I think, the process as much as possible and the appeal form may be what triggered the exam, but I thought they would send my file to BVA, so it will get on the docket, but that's not what they did. So, I'm searching for some more knowledgeable people on this forum that may offer words of wisdom, so I can better understand how to proceed with my claim. All of my responses, to date, to all their statements have been proven with the records pointed out to them, I think, but this claim has many weird innuendos that makes me wonder what else is going on? For example, when I glanced over at my file when the C&P doctor had it open, I noticed what looked like some type of an alert that said this vet (me) was married to a PTSD vet (my husband). Previously, when I requested my records from the VA, they erroneously sent me a copy of what looks like a development form from them in which the same thing was noted (I say erroneously because I don't think that was supposed to be for my eyes). Additionally, they noted erroneously that I did not claim PTSD until my husband was diagnosed. Actually, I sent them a copy of medical progress notes where it is noted they assumed erroneous information with that since I'd been diagnosed with it, before the dates they are acknowledging. I've asked them before what my husband's files have to do with mine, but they've not given me a response to that, as yet. I wasn't even married to the man when my in-service events occurred, never mind that I am my own person, served my own duty, so it seems unfair, to boot, that they seem to be looking for some type of link. On the last note, I do have a VSO, but has not been much help with anything, except that he did attend the hearing at the RO with me and did make the statement that the claim should be approved based on the evidence (paraphrased). It was too funny, though, but not in a funny way that he forgot about the hearing date, until I showed up at the RO for it, as previously arranged. So, I am pretty much alone in trying to figure this out. Any knowledge shared by any of you would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.