ANOTHER letter of rubberball---Just received another SSOC with denials and a scheduled TRAVEL BOARD HEARING which we have waited since 04' (for a DRO hearing and after going to Congressional they requested this)Questions for you all, get ready to read and I'll try my best to go in order:
On 6/24/05 the Statement of case reads" Evidence from Professor M and Dr. C
shows you have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. However you have not provided a verifiable stressfful incident. In absence of a verifiable stressor service connection for ptsd continues to be denied."
LETTER FROM VA MAY 07/ YOUR STRESSORS HAVE BEEN VERIFIED AND A CP EXAM SCHEDULED
(Professor M's credentials:M.D. Professor Integrative Medicine, Chairman Dept. of Behavioral Medicine, Capital University of Integrative Medicine Wash. D.C.)AUTHOR OF TEXTBOOK ON PTSD books he's written / Dr. C.says MD ,works for SS/DISABILITY
VA CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST IN 10/ 2000 STATES:
"REPORTS auditory hallucinations of people laughing at me " insomnia with dreams of Nam too" sporadic employment, paranoia re government, poor eye contact, irritability, no marked anxiety or depression,though complaintive, narcissism, intent to focus problems on Vietnam experience , no marked orientation or cognitive difficulty. good judgement reasoing and logic, A/ R/o PTST: R/O personality disorder-- return in 2 wekks for psychological testing-
VA PSYCHOLOGIST 2 WEEKS LATER IN 03-
55 min psychlogical testing for nsc condition . profile lacks sufficient validity for conclusive interpretation due to overreport of symptoms. Anger and paranoid trends are present,as elaveted mental level energy, and social introversion/alienation in pattern of active substance abuse or avoidant personality features. A/ Audjustment disorder with mixed effect R/O PTSD return in one month for review of test results.
Here is Professor M's diagnoses: in 2003
AXIS 1 --EXTREME AND TOTALLY DEBILITATING POST-STRESS DISORDER WITH DEPRESSION. CODE 309.81
AXIS 2-- NO DIAGNOSES
AXIS 3-- 1. HYPERTENSION 2. BI-LATERAL KNEE PAIN AND LUMBER PAIN CAUSED BY BEING BLOWN OUT OF HIS TRUCK 3. HEARING LOSS, LEFT EAR THOUGHT TO BE RELATED TO FIRING GUNS AND ALSO MORTAR ROUNDS THAT LANDED CLOSELY
4. NUMEROUS LIPOMAS , PROBABLY RELATED TO AGENT ORANGE, BLADDER STONES WITH THREE OPERATIONS PROBABLY RELATED TO AGENT ORANGE.
AXIS 4-- EXTREME STRESS RELATED TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TOLERATE PEOPLE AND RELATED TO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES SINCE HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO WORK
AXIS 5-UNABLE TO FUNCTION IN WORK CAPACITY FOR MORE THAN ONE OR TWO WEKKS AT A TIME SINCE HIS EXPERIENCES IN VIETNAM. THE GAF RATING AT THIS TIME WOULD BE ABOUT 25 AND THE BEST IT HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR IS 35.
SS DR. C. diagnosis: IN 2004
AXIS 1--PSYCHOTIC DISORDER, NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED-- RULE OUT MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER WITH PSYCHOTIC FEATURES. PTSD. ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE.
CANNABINOID ABUSE.
AXIS2--DEFERRED
AXIS 3--HYPERTENSION, CHRONIC KNEE PAIN, LIPOMAS, AND PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY
AXIS 4--UNEMPLOYMENT
AXIS 5-- GAF = 40
2004 va depression screening score is 4 --psychology notified by phone
2005 va ptsd screening positive 3
2006 va ptsd screening positive
VA C AND P EXAM 2007
Psy.D. CREDENTIALS LISTED FOR EXAMINER---
DIAGNOSES: AXIS 1 -- MOOD DISORDER/ NOS ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
AXIS 2 --DEFERRED AXIS 3 --NOT EVALUATED AT THIS EXAM
AXIS 4--N/A AXIS 5-- GAF= 60
SUMMARY:" THE VETERANS PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT SINCE LEAVING THE MILITARY IS POOR TO FAIR. IT IS UNCLEAR AS TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE VETERANS ALCOHOL USE (LIKELY DEPENDENCE) AND HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE MAY FIT INTO THIS. ALTHOUGH THE VETERAN DOES ENDORSE A PARTIAL SYMPTOM PROFILE OF PTSD, IT IS FINDING OF THIS WRITERTHAT THE VETERAN DOES NOT MEET FULL CRITERIA FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD- AS HE DOES NOT MEET FACTOR C. HE DOES APPEAR TO HAVE MOOD DISTURBANCE WITH THE FORM OF DEPRESSIVE AND ANIEXTY SYMPTOMS. INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME OF EVALUATION TO PARCEL HOW MUCH OF HIS IMPAIRED PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING IS RELATED TO ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE VERSUS MOOD PROBLEMS. CERTAINLY, HIS ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO HIS SLEEP PROBLEMS , ANXIETY SYMPTOMS AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS. HE IS NOT CURRENTLY RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND APPEARS TO BE REFUSING SUCH TREATMENT. IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO ENGAGE IN TREATMENT TO OBTAIN SYMPTOM RELIEF AS HIS SYMPTOMS ARE CURRENTLY NOT ADEQUATELY TREATED AT THIS TIME."
ASSESSMENT OF PTSD:
The following is found:
The veteran did feel when confronted by combat zone experiences such as witnessing a Vietcong soldier being dragged around and riding in a bus with wire around the windows, to stop incoming grenades as well as rocket and mortar attacks on his compound that he actually might die and appparently he felt unsafe. of course his exposure to traumatic stressor criteria for Factor A would appear to be limited to routine combat zone stressors. The death of his friend he claims to be a stressor event, although he provided verifiable evidence of his friends death , he didn't witness it or experience the aftermath of it directly. Although clearly a loss for the Veteran,would not appear to meet Factor A as a stressor event.
In Factor B, he reports intrusive thoughts about bodies being dragged and the death of his friend. He reports a history of distressing dreams with combat related themes. He would meet criteria for Factor B.
Factor C, he relates he is anxious. HEclaims to avoid conversation about VietNam ,although he was inconsistent in his report of avoidance symptoms throughout the interview. It is not clear whether or not he has felt estranged from others or has experienced emotional numbing. He reports he has been able to achieve a close emotional bond with his wife and children,and he has a successful marriage of 28 years.
it appears he doesn't meet factor C.
He does meet Factor D with history of sleep disturbance ,trouble concentrating and hyperviligance.
The veteran in this writers opinion does not meet the critieria for a diagnoses of PTSD because he does not meet critieria for Factor C.
The result of the PCLM- raw score of 68 with overreport of symptoms and should be cautiously interpreted. He reported he has tender loving feelings for his wife and kids during the interview, but on the PCLM rated inability to have tender feelings to those close to him as a significant problem.
BECAUSE WE ARE MARRIED YEARS THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR RATERS? HOW DO THEY KNOW HOW IT HAS BEEN? WE'VE BEEN HOMELESS TWICE --WASN'T EASY AT ALL-
NOW THE NEW SSOC STATES:01/08
THE EVIDENCE DOES NOT SHOW A CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD, WHICH WOULD PERMIT FINDING OF SERVICE-CONNECTION .
ALTHOUGH YOUR STRESSOR INFORMATION REGARDING ROCKET AND MORTAR ATTACKS ON DANANG FROM APR-OCT 68' WERE VERIFIED YOU DO NOT HAVE A CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD. TE EVIDENCE SHOWS YOU HAVE VARIOUS PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSES. VA EXAMINER REVIEWED YOUR CLAIMS FOLDER TO INCLUDE MEDICAL STATEMENTS FROM PROF.M AND DR. C. AND VA PROGRESS NOTES. YOU NEVER WITNESSED THE DEATH OF YOUR MFRIEND IN THE VERIFIABLE STRESSOR.THE EXAMINERS DIAGNOSTIC IMPRESSION WAS YOUR SYMPTOMS DO NOT MEET CRITIERIA FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD. THE EXAMINERS DIAGNOSIS WAS MOOD DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. BASED OF EVIDENCE OF RECORD SERVICE-CONNECTION IS DENIED. YOU DO NOT HAVE SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITES ,THEREFORE INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYABILITY IS DENIED.
so as i see it , first he had a diagnosis in the statement of case , but not a verifiable stressor, and now he has a verifiable stressor but no PTSD???? B)
so now they didnt even mention his buddy statement of who also witnessed rocket and mortar attacks with him.
WE HAVE HIRED A LAWYER TO GO TO THE TRAVEL BOARD HEARING. :) THISHAS AS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 98' DID I MENTION IS IS ON DISABILITY FOR PTSD FROM SS AND A NSC PENSION BECAUSE HE CAN'T WORK?
ALL REPLIES WELCOME/ HELP I AM SURROUNDED WITH 10 YEARS OF VA PAPERS!!!!!SINCERELY MRS VET
Question
mrsvet28
B) Hi everyone,
ANOTHER letter of rubberball---Just received another SSOC with denials and a scheduled TRAVEL BOARD HEARING which we have waited since 04' (for a DRO hearing and after going to Congressional they requested this)Questions for you all, get ready to read and I'll try my best to go in order:
On 6/24/05 the Statement of case reads" Evidence from Professor M and Dr. C
shows you have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. However you have not provided a verifiable stressfful incident. In absence of a verifiable stressor service connection for ptsd continues to be denied."
LETTER FROM VA MAY 07/ YOUR STRESSORS HAVE BEEN VERIFIED AND A CP EXAM SCHEDULED
(Professor M's credentials:M.D. Professor Integrative Medicine, Chairman Dept. of Behavioral Medicine, Capital University of Integrative Medicine Wash. D.C.)AUTHOR OF TEXTBOOK ON PTSD books he's written / Dr. C.says MD ,works for SS/DISABILITY
VA CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST IN 10/ 2000 STATES:
"REPORTS auditory hallucinations of people laughing at me " insomnia with dreams of Nam too" sporadic employment, paranoia re government, poor eye contact, irritability, no marked anxiety or depression,though complaintive, narcissism, intent to focus problems on Vietnam experience , no marked orientation or cognitive difficulty. good judgement reasoing and logic, A/ R/o PTST: R/O personality disorder-- return in 2 wekks for psychological testing-
VA PSYCHOLOGIST 2 WEEKS LATER IN 03-
55 min psychlogical testing for nsc condition . profile lacks sufficient validity for conclusive interpretation due to overreport of symptoms. Anger and paranoid trends are present,as elaveted mental level energy, and social introversion/alienation in pattern of active substance abuse or avoidant personality features. A/ Audjustment disorder with mixed effect R/O PTSD return in one month for review of test results.
Here is Professor M's diagnoses: in 2003
AXIS 1 --EXTREME AND TOTALLY DEBILITATING POST-STRESS DISORDER WITH DEPRESSION. CODE 309.81
AXIS 2-- NO DIAGNOSES
AXIS 3-- 1. HYPERTENSION 2. BI-LATERAL KNEE PAIN AND LUMBER PAIN CAUSED BY BEING BLOWN OUT OF HIS TRUCK 3. HEARING LOSS, LEFT EAR THOUGHT TO BE RELATED TO FIRING GUNS AND ALSO MORTAR ROUNDS THAT LANDED CLOSELY
4. NUMEROUS LIPOMAS , PROBABLY RELATED TO AGENT ORANGE, BLADDER STONES WITH THREE OPERATIONS PROBABLY RELATED TO AGENT ORANGE.
AXIS 4-- EXTREME STRESS RELATED TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TOLERATE PEOPLE AND RELATED TO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES SINCE HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO WORK
AXIS 5-UNABLE TO FUNCTION IN WORK CAPACITY FOR MORE THAN ONE OR TWO WEKKS AT A TIME SINCE HIS EXPERIENCES IN VIETNAM. THE GAF RATING AT THIS TIME WOULD BE ABOUT 25 AND THE BEST IT HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR IS 35.
SS DR. C. diagnosis: IN 2004
AXIS 1--PSYCHOTIC DISORDER, NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED-- RULE OUT MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER WITH PSYCHOTIC FEATURES. PTSD. ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE.
CANNABINOID ABUSE.
AXIS2--DEFERRED
AXIS 3--HYPERTENSION, CHRONIC KNEE PAIN, LIPOMAS, AND PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY
AXIS 4--UNEMPLOYMENT
AXIS 5-- GAF = 40
2004 va depression screening score is 4 --psychology notified by phone
2005 va ptsd screening positive 3
2006 va ptsd screening positive
VA C AND P EXAM 2007
Psy.D. CREDENTIALS LISTED FOR EXAMINER---
DIAGNOSES: AXIS 1 -- MOOD DISORDER/ NOS ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
AXIS 2 --DEFERRED AXIS 3 --NOT EVALUATED AT THIS EXAM
AXIS 4--N/A AXIS 5-- GAF= 60
SUMMARY:" THE VETERANS PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT SINCE LEAVING THE MILITARY IS POOR TO FAIR. IT IS UNCLEAR AS TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE VETERANS ALCOHOL USE (LIKELY DEPENDENCE) AND HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE MAY FIT INTO THIS. ALTHOUGH THE VETERAN DOES ENDORSE A PARTIAL SYMPTOM PROFILE OF PTSD, IT IS FINDING OF THIS WRITERTHAT THE VETERAN DOES NOT MEET FULL CRITERIA FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD- AS HE DOES NOT MEET FACTOR C. HE DOES APPEAR TO HAVE MOOD DISTURBANCE WITH THE FORM OF DEPRESSIVE AND ANIEXTY SYMPTOMS. INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME OF EVALUATION TO PARCEL HOW MUCH OF HIS IMPAIRED PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING IS RELATED TO ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE VERSUS MOOD PROBLEMS. CERTAINLY, HIS ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO HIS SLEEP PROBLEMS , ANXIETY SYMPTOMS AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS. HE IS NOT CURRENTLY RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND APPEARS TO BE REFUSING SUCH TREATMENT. IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO ENGAGE IN TREATMENT TO OBTAIN SYMPTOM RELIEF AS HIS SYMPTOMS ARE CURRENTLY NOT ADEQUATELY TREATED AT THIS TIME."
ASSESSMENT OF PTSD:
The following is found:
The veteran did feel when confronted by combat zone experiences such as witnessing a Vietcong soldier being dragged around and riding in a bus with wire around the windows, to stop incoming grenades as well as rocket and mortar attacks on his compound that he actually might die and appparently he felt unsafe. of course his exposure to traumatic stressor criteria for Factor A would appear to be limited to routine combat zone stressors. The death of his friend he claims to be a stressor event, although he provided verifiable evidence of his friends death , he didn't witness it or experience the aftermath of it directly. Although clearly a loss for the Veteran,would not appear to meet Factor A as a stressor event.
In Factor B, he reports intrusive thoughts about bodies being dragged and the death of his friend. He reports a history of distressing dreams with combat related themes. He would meet criteria for Factor B.
Factor C, he relates he is anxious. HEclaims to avoid conversation about VietNam ,although he was inconsistent in his report of avoidance symptoms throughout the interview. It is not clear whether or not he has felt estranged from others or has experienced emotional numbing. He reports he has been able to achieve a close emotional bond with his wife and children,and he has a successful marriage of 28 years.
it appears he doesn't meet factor C.
He does meet Factor D with history of sleep disturbance ,trouble concentrating and hyperviligance.
The veteran in this writers opinion does not meet the critieria for a diagnoses of PTSD because he does not meet critieria for Factor C.
The result of the PCLM- raw score of 68 with overreport of symptoms and should be cautiously interpreted. He reported he has tender loving feelings for his wife and kids during the interview, but on the PCLM rated inability to have tender feelings to those close to him as a significant problem.
BECAUSE WE ARE MARRIED YEARS THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR RATERS? HOW DO THEY KNOW HOW IT HAS BEEN? WE'VE BEEN HOMELESS TWICE --WASN'T EASY AT ALL-
NOW THE NEW SSOC STATES:01/08
THE EVIDENCE DOES NOT SHOW A CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD, WHICH WOULD PERMIT FINDING OF SERVICE-CONNECTION .
ALTHOUGH YOUR STRESSOR INFORMATION REGARDING ROCKET AND MORTAR ATTACKS ON DANANG FROM APR-OCT 68' WERE VERIFIED YOU DO NOT HAVE A CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD. TE EVIDENCE SHOWS YOU HAVE VARIOUS PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSES. VA EXAMINER REVIEWED YOUR CLAIMS FOLDER TO INCLUDE MEDICAL STATEMENTS FROM PROF.M AND DR. C. AND VA PROGRESS NOTES. YOU NEVER WITNESSED THE DEATH OF YOUR MFRIEND IN THE VERIFIABLE STRESSOR.THE EXAMINERS DIAGNOSTIC IMPRESSION WAS YOUR SYMPTOMS DO NOT MEET CRITIERIA FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD. THE EXAMINERS DIAGNOSIS WAS MOOD DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. BASED OF EVIDENCE OF RECORD SERVICE-CONNECTION IS DENIED. YOU DO NOT HAVE SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITES ,THEREFORE INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYABILITY IS DENIED.
so as i see it , first he had a diagnosis in the statement of case , but not a verifiable stressor, and now he has a verifiable stressor but no PTSD???? B)
so now they didnt even mention his buddy statement of who also witnessed rocket and mortar attacks with him.
WE HAVE HIRED A LAWYER TO GO TO THE TRAVEL BOARD HEARING. :) THISHAS AS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 98' DID I MENTION IS IS ON DISABILITY FOR PTSD FROM SS AND A NSC PENSION BECAUSE HE CAN'T WORK?
ALL REPLIES WELCOME/ HELP I AM SURROUNDED WITH 10 YEARS OF VA PAPERS!!!!!SINCERELY MRS VET
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