dogface

Update to this. I asked for a copy of the c&p earlier this month and it came today. Although my ROM is less than normal the examiner gave the dreaded "less than not expected". I'm pretty bummed, will hope the RO is more generous...

Great advice. I found mine to follow exactly how you said, I wish I had better prepared notes as to how my injury affected me in my daily life. Great post. Thanks!

Hi All, After over 21 months I had a c&p exam for my back injury two days ago. The advice here was invaluable. The only thing I wasn't prepared for was the examiner's question," So how is this affecting your life?",Other than that I would advise anyone to thoroughly read the advice available here, and there is no hurrying the process. Best to all, Dogface...

I used mine last week at Yosemite, everyone in the car free. I got the card by presenting my service connection award letter to the ranger after I first got it a few years ago. We go camping for half price too!

Thank you guys for the input. I appreciate it very much. I do take it day by day, trying to keep myself reined in and under control. Don't let the bad one in...

So I have filed a claim for PTSD, in the meantime the VA psychiatrist has been treating me - diagnosed me with PTSD- and now that I have been on the meds for 6 weeks I am feeling 50-60% better. So when the time comes for a C&P for my claim I will not be getting the rating I feel I should get because I am in better condition. Is that a Catch 22?

Thanks very much!

A quick correction here. I was first seen by a psychologist in August of last year. For my regular 6 month Doctors visit this February I was in the throes of a full blown anxiety episode and was at that time offered a visit to the psychologist at that time. I declined because he was not wanting to do anything but talk, and I wanted medication. They then set me up with my first visit to a psychiatrist, not a new psychiatrist. I understand now that the psychologists evaluate and offer therapy or chit chat, and psychiatrists treat witth medications...

Hi to all, It's been awhile. I got my records from the VA including the first visit to a new psychiatrist in early March, and my axis 1 -5. Axis I - Depression disorder nos PTSD. Axis II - None Axis III - Hypertension Hyperlipidemia LBP Diabetes Axis IV - Family Conflict Axis V - 55 The shrink has me on pills, 30mg of prozac and 3 trazadones a day. So far so good I'd say. I also got a request from the VA wanting more information as to my filing a claim for PTSD in Jan. In that filing I listed 4 stressors and they only need more information on 1 event. I take that to mean they have been able to find the other 3. Anyone care to comment? Yall been a heap a blessings....

Thanks very much.

I was in Korea in 1978-1980 and remember spraying chemicals for weed control. I also moved some drums of unknown chemicals to a "dump". I am sure they were nothing to worry about right? If so , there is nothing I can do about it now...

I was wondering about how open to be with the VA psychiatrist. I know it sounds stupid but this stuff goes in my file for outsiders to see. If a person goes in and says things like they are having bad thoughts about suicide or violence do they get committed?

I have 3 back related appts scheduled for January, I will try every time and update you all...

I only saw the DX , have not read the full report. I need to read it. It is a weird situation for me, having all been set in motion from the questionnaire I filled out before my original visit with my primary care doc. It's funny to me the psychiatrist has been more evaluating me than anything else. DX of depression and anxiety, R/O ptsd... and I suppose he's not a believer in dispensing drugs, I've been offered none.

There to infront of PTSD,but what get me is the dr never offers any mess, just wants to tal. Last thing I want to do...

I am confused, possible enemy or terrorist activity is not the main consideration for a ptsd rating?

My request for s/c of back injury was denied early this year but my hearing loss was rated (0 %) and tinnitus (10%), so I enrolled in VA medical, category 3. I was at the VA the other day for treatment of the back injury. It was the 3rd time I was there, a 92 mile round trip. I have assumed I was not eligible for the mileage pay because I am 10%, but on an urge I walked into the travel office and presented my ID and the lady ran it. Suddenly the dot matrix printer started screaming and before long I had in my hand a paper to present to the cashier stating I was due $32 and change after a $6 deductible. Quite a surprise for me, but I will keep presenting my ID every time I go now! Dogface

Hello All, I have had a peek at my file and the psychiatrist has me as r-o ptsd, depression, and anxiety. I am wondering f I should just file for depression and anxiety? Any opinion would be appreciated.

I have had a few issues from my enlistment, but the dates are mostly forgotten. I witnessed and was involved in assaults, the last assault happened 2 months before my enlistment expired. Fortunately I was not seriously hurt. I was on burial duty for a few months at Fort Carson,but can't remember the exact date/time frame. We would go to the Denver area to bury vets. While sitting in the desert in my tank of which I was the driver I witnessed a plane crash in '77 and felt the heat of the flames. I heard screams of the survivors, but we were told to drive away. While in Korea in '79 after the assassination of the Korean president I was driving officers to division from near the DMZ and witnessed a ROK officer shooting at a person that went by his jeep that was blocking the MSR, and afterward he aimed his weapon at me to make sure I stopped. The next week I was riding in a taxi back to my compound from another and the driver purposely drove his taxi into a concrete power pole at 40 mph trying to kill me and my friend, another GI, because we were Americans- and many Koreans thought we were complicit in their presidents death. We fled the scene and made our way to the compound where my friend was treated at the aid station. I still have nightmares where I am flying and crash into flames, which I attribute to the plane/car crash. After the weeks I spent on burial detail I became a heavy drinker for many years...

Hello to all, An update to my situation is in order. As I was diagnosed by the VA psychologist during a few sessions never did he say "you have PTSD". He did say at one time " you have symptoms of PTSD." I never did get him to say what his diagnosis was even after asking him a couple of times "how do you see me". I came to realize the only way I was gonna find out was to see my records and I have a feeling the guy is a defense-man for the VA. If I made a formal request for records it might influence his opinion. Therefore I asked my primary doctor today and she let me view his record of me. He has me down as having depression and anxiety, but is leaving the ptsd open by adding r-o to the front of it meaning it's not ruled out, but not defined. I wonder if I should just file for the two diagnosed, as I understand it is a better course. Thanks to all for the direction and helping hands.

Hi All, I was partially successful in filing a claim with the VA last year, awarded a 10% SC, and so decided to begin healthcare with them. Earlier this year I was screened by the VA medical on my first visit, and sent to their shrink who says I have symptoms of PTSD. Funny thing is there were about three sessions with him,and there were things that I had forgot about until even after the last session. The not so funny thing is that I have had nightmares since remembering, and they are the same ones I had forgot about having years ago. I have also had a few really bad days, really dark moods that are not easily explained. I am gonna struggle with the stressor letter as there are a few events I am unsure of the date range as the time frame was over 30 years ago. The VSO is not using the 526ez that I have seen being advised here as well, but the full form-but I am gonna have a little faith in her she has been at it for 20 years. As far as anyone hurting my feelings by asking questions or even playing devils advocate I appreciate your position and experience, and would encourage you not to hold back. Thanks very much...

I have visited a VSO and she says I need to write a stressor letter for my claim.it doesn't seem like she gives it much hope. Non combat is an uphill climb proving. I can t remember specific dates even to 3 months of the event in a couple of instances. I would like to thank y'all for being here for me, ya all rock!

Thanks you all, I should clarify. I no longer have a drinking problem, but confessed to drinking during the stressful times of my duty-and then for a few years after I got out. I wan not completely honest with the shrink, I kept my dope smoking to myself. Pretty much a straight arrow now, just the "normal" f'd up attitude, bad dreams,etc... I really appreciate the helping hand, it means a lot. Thanks very much...

I witnessed a ROK officer fire on a taxi driver that had ran a roadblock on the MSR a couple of clicks south of the DMZ. This was the day after President Park was assainated,so things were tight.

Hello everyone, I recently visited the VA clinic after qualifying for the medical benefits due to a service connected condition. During the intake I was diagnosed as a positive for symptoms of ptsd, and they preferred that I didn't leave until seen... I have visited the psychiatrist there 4 times. He has stated I have ptsd symptoms, but I am not sure if the visits were for measuring me for my own benefit or to disqualify me for some reason. During the interview I confessed to heavy drinking, does that hurt a claim? I have an appointment with a local VSO in a couple of weeks. Thanks very much ...