Personality Disorder Labeling By The Va

[cowgirl]

Thanks for hearing me out. I know there is much discussion and debate on the term "personality disorder" being a reason for disability denial as result of C&Ps. Is there a way to 'correct' or deny this overused labeling term recieved from the C&P exams other than by getting a more clear diagnosis from an IMO or VA doctor? As I understand, many veterans are given this feedback and I am concerned that once given this feedback, it deters appeals based on deep personal insult.

Bascially I see this as the veteran, an adult, that is facing one, two or a myriad of psych disability issues gains another 'worry' with being told they "have or possible diagnosis of" personality disorder. Namely I feel it this says "this adult has been an oddball from the get go and just now got told they were born with it." Once the C&P responds with these "possible" results, there is no follow through care and the label is another ribbon to wear without a frog back. Have had this nagging unresolved "worry" for years,cg

Edited October 16, 2007 by cowgirl

[Pete53]

CG:

The VA not a Doc but the Rater at the VARO diagnosed me with a Personality Disorder. It was not on a single C&P, an IMO or any Doctor I saw in the Military nor at the VA. It hurt like you stated but for the most part it made me buy a DSMV at Half Priced Books and red up on Personality Disorders and what I found out is the best way to defend against it is to go ahead an ask the VA Shrink or C&P Doc if they think that you have a diagnosable Personality Disorder.

There are over a dozen different ones but they all share some things in common and I would suggest that the screening that the Military does would weed out almost all who have one.

List of personality disorders defined in the DSM

The DSM-IV lists ten personality disorders, grouped into three clusters. The DSM also contains a category for behavioral patterns that do not match these ten disorders, but nevertheless exhibit characteristics of a personality disorder. This category is labeled Personality Disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified).

Cluster A (odd or eccentric disorders)

* Paranoid personality disorder

* Schizoid personality disorder

* Schizotypal personality disorder

Cluster B (dramatic, emotional, or erratic disorders)

* Antisocial personality disorder

* Borderline personality disorder

* Histrionic personality disorder

* Narcissistic personality disorder

Cluster C (anxious or fearful disorders)

* Avoidant personality disorder

* Dependent personality disorder (not the same as Dysthymia)

* Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (not the same as Obsessive-compulsive disorder)

[edit] Revisions and exclusions from past DSM editions

The revision of the previous edition of the DSM, DSM-III-R, also contained the Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder, the Self-Defeating Personality Disorder, and the Sadistic Personality Disorder. Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder is a pattern of negative attitudes and passive resistance in interpersonal situations. Self-defeating personality disorder is characterized by behavior that consequently undermines the person's pleasure and goals. Sadistic Personality Disorder is a pervasive pattern of cruel, demeaning, and aggressive behavior. These categories were removed in the current version of the DSM, because it is questionable whether these are separate disorders. Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder and Depressive personality disorder were placed in an appendix of DSM-IV for research purposes.

[Wings]

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A veteran can have a personality disorder AND have a legitimate claim. The problem I'm seeing (like you), is that once a Personality D/O has been entertained, both DoD and VA mental health "specialists" shortcut the work of diagnosing and treating additional clinical issues. Save time and money. It's prejudiced and very wrong. ~Wings

Multi-axial system

The DSM-IV organizes each psychiatric diagnosis into five levels (axes) relating to different aspects of disorder or disability:

Axis I: clinical disorders, including major mental disorders, as well as developmental and learning disorders

Axis II: underlying pervasive or personality conditions, as well as mental retardation

Axis III: Acute medical conditions and Physical disorders.

Axis IV: psychosocial and environmental factors contributing to the disorder

Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning or Children’s Global Assessment Scale for children under the age of 18. (on a scale from 100 to 0)

Edited October 16, 2007 by Wings

[cowgirl]

Thanks for the feedback dear Pete. I will read up on the personality disorder, but still find issue with the SOC denial and vague near-diagnosis wording. Now, for my next fun question, so if the VA doctors discover that I have a currently diagnosable personality disorder and was treated on active duty for the same, then what? The personality disorder was reason for denial on my SOC for my disability claim, so I guess I need to figure out "what does it mean to me?" because from what I understand - PD is a pre-existing condition, and considered non-treatable and non-compensable by the VA.cg

_{It hurt like you stated but for the most part it made me buy a DSMV at Half Priced Books and red up on Personality Disorders and what I found out is the best way to defend against it is to go ahead an ask the VA Shrink or C&P Doc if they think that you have a diagnosable Personality Disorder.}

Edited October 16, 2007 by cowgirl

[Pete53]

CG:

Wings told you that you can have a personality disorder and still get paid by VA if you are service connected for something else. Almost everyone honestly has some of the traits but it causes you not to be able to function or really deal well with others. Try this link:

http://psychcentral.com/personality/

[goofycow]

I just HATE this whole issue of personality disorder. I wasn't even diagnosed with personality disorders until I sought treatment from the VA 10 years AFTER I retired from the military. If anything I would say that since going to VA mental health, my depression has gotten worse, not better. I did just a little research on borderline PD because that seems to be one of VA's favorite. This one site stated that women tend to get stuck with this label if they are considered a pain in the butt by their providers. Pain in the butt? Who? Me?

Liz

[john999]

What the VA will often do is to diagnose a person with a personality disorder and then try and blame their inability to work on the PD instead of medical conditions. For instance, a vet has a diagnosis of PTSD and the VA also includes a PD diagnosis. The vet can't work so the VA tries to say that the vet is IU because of the PD and not the PTSD. The VA just did this to me on my CUE claim. I was diagnosed with a medical condition within a year of discharge but also a PD. I got service connected and eventually was given TDIU for the medical condition. Now that I file the CUE saying I should have been considered for TDIU from the beginning the VA says all my problems are due to the PD. Fortunately, I have been SC for 35 years so they cannot sever SC, but if they could they probably would based on discovery of a PD. These guys can invent anything to avoid a payout of big bucks. When the VA C&P shrink starts asking you about high school, trouble with the law, and your family problems you know they are on a fishing expedition for a PD diagnosis.