I am very confused about the recent rating results of my claim. Would you please explain some areas for me? My PTSD remained at 30% (the same since 1991 even though I have been recalled twice since that time).
PTSD: Progress Note by An Le, Psy.D. Psychologist, Signed: 06/13/2007
Axis I: PTSD with secondary Major Depression
Axis II: None identified
Axis III: Diabetes, broken knuckle, Depression, PTSD, Pulmonary, Cardiac, Cataracts, HTN, Neuropathy, and ED
Axis IV: Strained relationship with oldest son who was drug and financial problems; inadequate social support; health problems, recently moved and trying to sell old home.
Axis V: Current GAF – 50-55 due to PTSD (periods of suicidal ideation or thoughts of death, depressed, isolated, flat affect, occasional panic attack, has only one friend but rarely interacts with him, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping w/o medication, anxiety).
Capacity: Veteran has the capacity to manage his financial affairs.
General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders:
Occupational and social impairment, with 70
deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due
to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or
depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively;
impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial
disorientation; difficulty in adapting to stressful
circumstances (including work or a work-like
setting); inability to establish and maintain
effective relationships........................... ALL NOTED BY DR. LE.
Occupational and social impairment with reduced 50
reliability and productivity due to such symptoms
as: flattened affect; circumstantial,
circumlocutory, panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in
understanding complex commands; impairment of
short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of
only highly learned material, forgetting to
complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired
abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and
mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining
effective work and social relationships........... ALL NOTED BY DR. LE.
It appears to me that the Psychologist stated I had met the criteria for 70% if not 50%.
Please note – and this is not a hateful remark – the Psychologist was Vietnamese. I had a very difficult time being in the room with her as I was on edge and didn’t want to come across as a weak American. I did not tell her about my personal hygiene or finances. My wife does all the finances and my personal hygiene is lacking. I don’t think the Regional Office takes into consideration that a person of the nationally where a traumatic event took place would cause additional anguish to a personal interview. I don’t believe our returning soldiers with mental disorders would want to be interviewed with an Arabic speaking person. Just my thoughts.
Also, I was wandering why my Major Depression was not considered. Or why wasn’t my PTSD associated either with my heart attack while on active duty or Diabetes.
Please note in Ms. An Le’s summary she wrote: From 2004 to 2006, he worked at an EDUCATION CENTER where his job required him to visit mortuary, read synopsis of every death from OIF/OEF and select out articles from those synopses. During this time, his drinking and depression had increased.
I can assure you that this was not done at a civilian EDUCATION CENTER! This was done at the DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS, Hoffman Building II, Alexander, VA while on my second tour as a volunteer. I provided my DD 214. To me it seems fundamental that the claim would be for active army trauma. I worked at the Education Center when I was recalled.
I would like to draw your attention to Ms. Le’s PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT SINCE THE LAST EXAMINATION. JOBS. SOCIAL. MEDICAL PROBLEMS. IMPULSE CONTROL. SUMMARY STATEMENT OF CURRENT PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONAL STATUS. MEMORY IMPAIRMENT. PANIC ATTACKS. ASSESSMENT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
ALSO – My first PTSD examination was in 1991 in Boise, ID. Additionally I was seeking a claim in Agent Orange at that time since I was having patches of white skin appearing all over my body. I was told in 1991 that I was not in an area where AO was sprayed later this turned out to be untruthful.
I was told that my claim for asbestos was denied. I never filed a claim pertaining to asbestos.
Did anyone read the letter on my behalf from Mr. Bob Waechter, MA., MPA Team Leader, Vet Center, Kansas City, MO 301 E. Armour Blvd, Suite 305 Kansas City, MO 64111. Telephone (816) 753-8166 Fax (816) 753-2328.
He wrote and I quote: Jerry Osborne has been seen in Individual and Group psychotherapy at the Kansas City Vet Center since September 7, 2006. He presented with symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic and Severe. The letter Mr. Waechter is quite long. I asked C&P if that letter was attached and they assured me that it was.
My other doctor at VA KC MO is Dr. Elizabeth Yaffee. She is the chief Psychologist for OIF/OEF vets. She has me on several medicines from PTSD and Major Depression. Also, she is considering having me undergo Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): Treating severe depression.
Was she contacted? He telephone number at KC VA Medical Center is (816) 861-4700 Ext 56664 – Her secretary’s is Ext 56625. Her GAF rating for me was 45.
Question
Jerry_O
THIS IS NOT A FORMAL NOTICE OF DISAGREEMENT.
I am very confused about the recent rating results of my claim. Would you please explain some areas for me? My PTSD remained at 30% (the same since 1991 even though I have been recalled twice since that time).
PTSD: Progress Note by An Le, Psy.D. Psychologist, Signed: 06/13/2007
Axis I: PTSD with secondary Major Depression
Axis II: None identified
Axis III: Diabetes, broken knuckle, Depression, PTSD, Pulmonary, Cardiac, Cataracts, HTN, Neuropathy, and ED
Axis IV: Strained relationship with oldest son who was drug and financial problems; inadequate social support; health problems, recently moved and trying to sell old home.
Axis V: Current GAF – 50-55 due to PTSD (periods of suicidal ideation or thoughts of death, depressed, isolated, flat affect, occasional panic attack, has only one friend but rarely interacts with him, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping w/o medication, anxiety).
Capacity: Veteran has the capacity to manage his financial affairs.
General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders:
Occupational and social impairment, with 70
deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due
to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or
depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively;
impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial
disorientation; difficulty in adapting to stressful
circumstances (including work or a work-like
setting); inability to establish and maintain
effective relationships........................... ALL NOTED BY DR. LE.
Occupational and social impairment with reduced 50
reliability and productivity due to such symptoms
as: flattened affect; circumstantial,
circumlocutory, panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in
understanding complex commands; impairment of
short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of
only highly learned material, forgetting to
complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired
abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and
mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining
effective work and social relationships........... ALL NOTED BY DR. LE.
It appears to me that the Psychologist stated I had met the criteria for 70% if not 50%.
Please note – and this is not a hateful remark – the Psychologist was Vietnamese. I had a very difficult time being in the room with her as I was on edge and didn’t want to come across as a weak American. I did not tell her about my personal hygiene or finances. My wife does all the finances and my personal hygiene is lacking. I don’t think the Regional Office takes into consideration that a person of the nationally where a traumatic event took place would cause additional anguish to a personal interview. I don’t believe our returning soldiers with mental disorders would want to be interviewed with an Arabic speaking person. Just my thoughts.
Also, I was wandering why my Major Depression was not considered. Or why wasn’t my PTSD associated either with my heart attack while on active duty or Diabetes.
Please note in Ms. An Le’s summary she wrote: From 2004 to 2006, he worked at an EDUCATION CENTER where his job required him to visit mortuary, read synopsis of every death from OIF/OEF and select out articles from those synopses. During this time, his drinking and depression had increased.
I can assure you that this was not done at a civilian EDUCATION CENTER! This was done at the DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS, Hoffman Building II, Alexander, VA while on my second tour as a volunteer. I provided my DD 214. To me it seems fundamental that the claim would be for active army trauma. I worked at the Education Center when I was recalled.
I would like to draw your attention to Ms. Le’s PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT SINCE THE LAST EXAMINATION. JOBS. SOCIAL. MEDICAL PROBLEMS. IMPULSE CONTROL. SUMMARY STATEMENT OF CURRENT PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONAL STATUS. MEMORY IMPAIRMENT. PANIC ATTACKS. ASSESSMENT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
ALSO – My first PTSD examination was in 1991 in Boise, ID. Additionally I was seeking a claim in Agent Orange at that time since I was having patches of white skin appearing all over my body. I was told in 1991 that I was not in an area where AO was sprayed later this turned out to be untruthful.
I was told that my claim for asbestos was denied. I never filed a claim pertaining to asbestos.
Did anyone read the letter on my behalf from Mr. Bob Waechter, MA., MPA Team Leader, Vet Center, Kansas City, MO 301 E. Armour Blvd, Suite 305 Kansas City, MO 64111. Telephone (816) 753-8166 Fax (816) 753-2328.
He wrote and I quote: Jerry Osborne has been seen in Individual and Group psychotherapy at the Kansas City Vet Center since September 7, 2006. He presented with symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic and Severe. The letter Mr. Waechter is quite long. I asked C&P if that letter was attached and they assured me that it was.
My other doctor at VA KC MO is Dr. Elizabeth Yaffee. She is the chief Psychologist for OIF/OEF vets. She has me on several medicines from PTSD and Major Depression. Also, she is considering having me undergo Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): Treating severe depression.
Was she contacted? He telephone number at KC VA Medical Center is (816) 861-4700 Ext 56664 – Her secretary’s is Ext 56625. Her GAF rating for me was 45.
Very Respectfully:
Jerry
THIS IS NOT A FORMAL NOTICE OF DISAGREEMENT
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