ptsd Zero % After Dro Hearing For Ptsd

[Johnny K.]

Dear Tbird,

This site is an unbelieveable blessing and, after more than two years of trying to prove service connection for my PTSD, I finally found the site a couple of months ago, after my Legion Rep told me about it.

I have been married twice, most recently for fourteen years. I am a Vietnam and Desert Storm non-combat veteran and worked as a Hospital Corpsman from 1973-1992 mostly with the Marine Corps as a Field Medical Service Technician as a platoon corpsman , and as an EMT/Paramedic at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital emergency services, and in the refugee camp in 1975 where all of my documented stressors occurred, along with caring for the sick and wounded returning to Long Beach Naval Hospital during 1972.

Last week a DRO sent me a transcript of our meeting and changed me from a complete denial status of my service connection claim to zero %. I have been treated by private mental health professionals on an outpatient basis since 1981, and by VA doctors since 2005. The diagnoses have always included anxiety/panic disorder, major depression, etc. GAF 55.

My American Legion Rep is happy and says that, now that I have recieved service connection status, we can appeal again for a higher percentage of disability.

I currently work four hours a day, five days a week in a job which allows me to have minimal contact with the public, and that helps me avoid many of my stressors.

I drive to and from work, and drive at work and, because I am on medication continuously I have few road rage incidents. I have been on medication for many years for my symptoms and I recieve them from a VA psychiatrist.

The transcript from the DRO had several mistakes in it, and I would like to correct them. How do I do that?

Also, in order to get my rating increased do I need to get a statement of employability? And should I go to a civilian psychologist, or psychiatrist-- or the VA psychiatrist (who I do not completely trust). Who's opinion would carry the most weight with the people who make ratings decisions?

One of the great Hadit community members provided me with a list describing what each percentage increment for PTSD requires, and I believe I fall somewhere around 30-50 %.

Thanks for your great heart and the help of the whole Hadit community.

Doc John

[cloudcroft]

Johnny K.,

Yes, if you can find a civilian (non-VA) shrink who specializes in PTSD that would be great. Better yet is one Board Certified for PTSD and on top of that, best of all would be one who has worked with combat vets and is VA-experienced. Because PTSD can have other non-military service causes, if your PTSD is from combat service, you'd want a shrink who has dealt with that environment and also knows how to write up IMOs according to VA guidelines.

The more suited a shrink is (due to his/her specialization) for whatever your mental disability is -- not just PTSD - AND who has worked with vets before, the better, and the harder it is for the VA to dismiss it.

I mean seeing a shrink specializing in children/adolescents, family issues or phobias, for example, isn't really going to be that helpful even though he/she may be a very good shrink; same for a shrink who knows nothing about vets or the VA...unless that's all you can find in your town. Also, keep in mind that some shrinks will not even do IMOs, others will, while even others will do IMOs, too, but will want to see you for a while (x-number of sessions) before they write one up. Ask the shrink about this ahead of time.

And an IMO could be expensive: A local shrink here requires a $2000 retainer before he will even see you...he said, "This in case I have to go to Washington and testify before the BVA or CVA" (but I don't see why he can't wait to BE SURE he will have to go before asking for the 2 grand, and besides, requesting the shrink's presence is unlikely anyway). And the famous Dr. Bash is several grand (but I don't know if he does mental issues, let alone PTSD). Otherwise, consider about $300 for the IMO sesson itself plus the actual write-up/report.

Unfortunately, a shrink like this -- PTSD specialist/board certified for PTSD/VA-experienced -- probably will be VERY hard to fund in small or medium-sized towns/cities...even in larger cities it may be tough. I expect that in a few years there will be more shrinks specializing in PTSD and vet-experienced due to the increasing number of vets coming back from Iraq. But that doesn't help us NOW. The lack of VA-experienced shrinks is probably the same as the lack of VA-experienced lawyers.

VA shrinks are the best way to go if you can find one who is vet-friendly and sympathetic to PTSD issues. Get one who isn't vet-friendly and you're probably in trouble.

Good luck,

-- John D.

Edited September 27, 2007 by cloudcroft

[cowgirl]

Doc. As I read your post and the replies here, you seem to be on track to correct your PTSD rating. Thanks to experienced Hadit family and years of effort, my disability rating issues are truing up.

My 2 questions.

First, do you have a copy of your C-file and have you read it? When I first requested and recieved my C-file, I only got the "medical" office visit notes. I learned here that I didnt get the entire thing, so I re-requested a copy of my "entire" Cfile, wow, it had so much more data, like V.A. specific disability diagnosis statements, C&P exam results, claim notes, claim letters and proof submitted. Once I submitted a claim using the wrong diagnosis, that was before I had my Cfile copy. Afterwards, my VSO and I had correct info. There were some things in my C-file that I was surprised at, telephone record notes that I had reqeusted this or that (a few untrue statements too that upset me too!) All in all, a very important, interesting and eye opening read.

Second, Do you know you can update your listing here with your hard earned disability rating? See "my controls" at the top of the page, smile. cg

[Billyboy]

Doc John, don’t give up, almost 5 years ago when a vet wanted to help me with a claim for PTSD I told him, “Your crazy as hell, I don’t have PTSD” A shrink the VA sent me to said, “the service was more likely then not the cause of my problems” (Not the exact words.) I am now waiting for the formal notice of my new rating of 70% MDD and 100% TDIU. Of course the waiting will probably kill me. So just keep working, it will come. AND there is a lot of great help here. bill

[Testvet]

Johnny, controlling my meds is all my shrink does to, he's the only MH type I see, but his comments about my symptoms, the GAFs he's given me for the past 4 years all showed the extreme effect PTSD has on my life, he has given me scores from 30-45 for 4 years now and 2 letters in 2004 and 2005 that plainly stated that "he felt that my SC PTSD was totally and permanently disabling, and that due to the fact that I have been affected by symptoms of PTSD for over 30 years he doubted I would ever get better" the first time they gave me 50% the second time after I wrote Darth Vader (Dick Cheney) in Dec 2005 the VARO awarded me the 100% I think just to get me to quit writing the WH. LOL

He also made some comments about my having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD, and was to fixated on the fact that the Army turned me over to some damn Nazi doctors the OSS/CIA brought to the US after WW2 who worked at Edgewood Arsenal doing human experiments on soldiers, and I was test subject 6778A out of 7120 men used. Gee I wonder why he thinks I would be obsessing about something like that?

Edited September 28, 2007 by Testvet

[Johnny K.]

If I were you I would get an opinion from a private psychiatrist-

There is a specific criteria they should follow- see my topic "Getting an Independent Medical Opinion under the search feature.

They should also have the VA award letter and narrative that holds the Reasons and Bases for the low rating.And copies of any PTSD C & P exam results you have (they can be requested from the VAMC)

Any private doc has to make a strong nexus statement- such as "In my professional opinion the veteran's current disability is more than likely due to the veteran's exposure to......(stressful events, etc)in service."

Also he/she could throw in "there is no other known etiology but for the inservice (stressors ,events etc")to have caused this disability to the veteran.

A Psychiatrist would possibly give you the full gamit of psychological testing that would help them shape their opinion.

(Unless the VA did already?)

The VA gave the reasons for the "0" rating and this is what a good IMO has to combat with full medical rationale.

Hi Berta,

I saw a Fee For Service psychiatrist for my C&P exam. It was at 11:30 A.M. and he must have been hungry. He did a very brief and incomplete exam, not even mentioning hyper-vigilance, insomnia, etc.

When he asked his first question it was about when I was first seen for my symptoms, and I said 1981. Then he asked what the psych's initial diagnosis was and I said

" dysthymia (major depression)" and before I could say "but, he later changed his diagnosis to PTSD", the quack had moved on to the next question. Because of this poor exam (which did concede SC major depression but failed to service connect me for PTSD, I asked to see the DRO.

After she read all of my IMO opinions, she put me at 0% for PTSD and now I am adding the Major Depressive disorder and TMJ to my ammended claim.

The VSO sent me the DRO's transcript, but I have not received the actual opinion letter yet. The DRO meeting was only on Sept 12, so it should come soon.

Oh, and now I have found out the VARO at Bay Pines has hired the quack (Dr. Mack) as

a staff psychiatrist- no longer fee for service. My Vet Center counselor says that this guy has not diagnosed PTSD in any claimants and five of her clients have documented PTSD diagnoses from IMO's which have been ignored by him. Maybe that is how he got the staff position? B)

Thanks Doc Johnny K.

Edited October 1, 2007 by Johnny K.

[cowgirl]

JohnnyK. nice a Vet Center counselor is helping you. I hope all goes well and future interactions with your VA docs in the future are professional (client/doctor). Some doctor/patient relationships just dont work; had one myself, am adjusting some "odd" statements in my CFile thanks to them. Now, got a great VA doc and I wouldnt trade for anything (well nearly!) Again, good luck, expect good things and think about an official greivance if its really needed.cg