hypertension Mental Disability

[labonte1000]

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%

[Berta]

"What do I have to get the anxiety up to to apply for TDIU"

What you need is medical evidence that supports an increase of the 10 % rating -my husband had a stack about 3-4 feet high of his VA medical evidence on a dolly at the SSA office-10 years of consistent therapy for PTSD---- that is what I mean by medical evidence.

Also his documentation included statements from the VA -as his employer-statements from his ex wife,statements from the Electric Company as employer,statements from Voc Rehab and his college profs (also proof that he needed special accomodations to his PTSD in college) and from the Nuclear Power plant he worked at for ten years-, Vet center records,PTSD in- house hospital program records, medication records (he only began PTSD meds for about 8 months prior to his death),verification of his PTSD stressors,results of 6 psychological tests,a statement that he was catastrophically disabled by PTSD and could not work -from his shrink, and statements from me -that I attached my VA Vet Center volunteer card to.I was in the PTSD group he was in- as a vet center volunteer and could make competent lay statements to VA as to his disability.

He was SC 30% for 11 years -with a claim in for higher rating at the rating board when he died-

I had to re-open this claim and supplied the VA with significant additional medical evidence they had never considered and he was awarded 100% P & T over 3 years after his death.

His SSD for PTSD only took 3 months.It was based on the same evidence that the VA had.

His goal was to keep his anxiety down- not make it go up-and to return to the Nuclear Power industry.

I agree with what John said here-

"Not one vet here who is 100% would not trade the money for being able bodied again"

You can file a Notice of Disagreement with the 10% decision and tell them why you feel it is not correct.

It will take medical evidence to get it rated higher.

[labonte1000]

thanks everyone

[Cherie33]

Cherie,

Can you let us know how you got VA to award your first rating of

10% SC for the Personality Disorder ?

Thanks,

carlie

Carlie,

When I was discharged, I was discharged with a diagnoses of "Personality Disorder". I believe that is why I was granted 10% initially when I filed with the VA.

Cherie33

[Hoppy]

The people I know who rec'd high ratings for a psych condition had several periods of hospitalization or several years of verifiable no income while participating in treatment. A Social Security wage statement showing no income can be given to your treating physician or the VA. Folks who try to get a high rating while refusing treatment and make subjective statements about their unemployability have a difficult time getting high ratings.

[Hoppy]

Cherie33,

One way to get compensation if you are discharged for a personality disorder is to get the diagnosis changed. This can occur if you have a records of your SMR and the diagnosis of personality disorder was based on superficial exams. I know several people who were able to do this by going into treatment and specifically requesting a re-diagnosis.

[labonte1000]

Hi, one more thing I get 10% for hypertension and 10% for anxiety. I believe the hypertension is caused by my anxiety because when i take my reading there low. My question is, is it better for me to keep 2 seperate ratings or to get the hypertension one combined with the anxiety one, and if i do get them combined what would my precentage then become, meaning would it be 20% anxiety?