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Mental Disability

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labonte1000

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labonte1000 Enthusiast

labonte1000

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Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if I could get some advice here. I'm currenlty 20% disabled, 10 for hypertension and 10 for generlized anxiety disorder.

Anyways I got out of Service in September of 2006 and filed a cliam for anxiety and hypertension, in may I received the letter of rating for 20%, But since I got out of service my panic attacks and anxiety symptoms have increased, and It really hard to look for a job that I can do. Right now its getting hard for me to leave the house, let alone work due to panic/anxiety. I also have ed due to the anxiety/panic. Can that be added on to my anxiety claim?

Just wondering if I'm doing this right, I hired a Va lawyer to help me try to increase my Va letter from 20%. I just feel like I can't do any of the jobs out there due to my public anxiety/panic. I don't have any paperwork on it besides whats in my military record. Will that work? I just don't want to go on any medication, I was already there and took pills in the military for a while and they only made things worse. Will I get to be reseen by a Va doctor for my claim to show them all my present problems. Any info would help, thanks everyone. I just feel at this time my rating for anxiety should be more than 10%

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labonte1000 Enthusiast

labonte1000

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What I meant by be reseen by VA doctor was for the claim purpose, sorry not my VA primary care.

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if I could get some advice here. I'm currenlty 20% disabled, 10 for hypertension and 10 for generlized anxiety disorder.

Anyways I got out of Service in September of 2006 and filed a cliam for anxiety and hypertension, in may I received the letter of rating for 20%, But since I got out of service my panic attacks and anxiety symptoms have increased, and It really hard to look for a job that I can do. Right now its getting hard for me to leave the house, let alone work due to panic/anxiety. I also have ed due to the anxiety/panic. Can that be added on to my anxiety claim?

Just wondering if I'm doing this right, I hired a Va lawyer to help me try to increase my Va letter from 20%. I just feel like I can't do any of the jobs out there due to my public anxiety/panic. I don't have any paperwork on it besides whats in my military record. Will that work? I just don't want to go on any medication, I was already there and took pills in the military for a while and they only made things worse. Will I get to be reseen by a Va doctor for my claim to show them all my present problems. Any info would help, thanks everyone. I just feel at this time my rating for anxiety should be more than 10%

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Pete53 Grand Master

Pete53

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If your anxiety keeps you from working you should be 100% some way or another. Did you file for Social Security?

Veterans deserve real choice for their health care.

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labonte1000 Enthusiast

labonte1000

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No not yet, i think my SS benefits would only be around 900 a month, I don't think I could live off that. How would I get SS benefits without any paperwork besides my military record, I was going to try and get a higher rating then use that to help me get SS benefits. Please advice

If your anxiety keeps you from working you should be 100% some way or another. Did you file for Social Security?
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Speaking Out

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Your attorney that is helping you get an increase should be able to do your SS paperwork at the same time. Also, if your disability is causing you to not be able to work apply for IU. I would like to urge you to rethink your feelings about medication. I understand, believe me. I have been through them all and some twice. I have felt like I was drunk, in a fog, and just didn't care about anything. Those meds were not right for me either, but you have to keep trying until you find something that works. It doesn't mean that you have to take them for the rest of your life, but until you are able to manage better, they can help. Also, are you seeing anyone for the anxiety. I ask this because I have anxiety and I know what a monster it can be and how it feeds itself. Having a pro tell you and show you how to control it will give you a great deal of relief. Will they be able to make you able to work? I don't know. But I do know from personal experience having the tools to help myself has been a life saver. If you know my story, you'd know I am the last person to tell you to go to the VA for care, so I urge you to see your private doctor, but if you can't go to the VA and be seen in the mental health department. I think your attorney should be able to really help you with your SS.

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john999 Grand Master

john999

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You need to make an appointment with a VA psychiatrist and start documenting your treatment. Your lawyer should send you to a good shrink to get an opinion to counter the low rating you got initially. 10% means mild symptoms so you need evidence to prove your symtoms are severe. If you are not taking, or at least appear to be taking medications you probably won't get a higher rating. Some of the medications like Paxil can really help with panic attacks. The VA considers if you are not taking meds and in treatment then you are OK.

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Berta

Berta

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With 10% you need more medical evidence to prove a higher rating-

I agree with what others stated here.

The VA LOVES PAPER! They need a Paper trail to justify their decisions-

meaning - medication records, therapy records , vet center meetings,statements from family members and/or employers-anything that can show your symptoms are more severe than the 10% they gave you and that these symptoms prevent you from working.

"I also have ed due to the anxiety/panic. Can that be added on to my anxiety claim"

I suggest that you ask the ED to be service connected due to both the anxiety as well as your high blood pressure-it is possible that your HBP medication is the actual cause of the ED.If VA Sces the ED- they will only pick one of these two reasons but why not give two reasons?

I would check the HBP meds you take for their side affects and if ED is one of them you could print that info out from the side affect list and send it in to support that claim.

Was the High Blood pressure granted as SC because of your SMRs or as secondary to the anxiety disorder?

GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !

When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief

Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was

simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."

Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.

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