ptsd Required Ptsd Re-evaluations

[jessejames]

I read where the Vet's Commission has suggested a REQUIRED re-evaluation for PTSD every 2 years or whatever. Congress IS going to approve this it seems: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/washin...s.aspx?id=75895

http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfJAN08/nf012508-9.htm

"“A lot of veterans would view these reviews as an attempt to take away their benefits,” said Gerald Manar, deputy director of the VFW’s national veterans service.

Researching for the commission, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies recommended case by case determinations of whether veterans need follow-up exams.

However, the benefits commission felt that required reevaluations for some types of disabilities, particularly mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, would ensure that those needing regular check-ups didn’t slip through the cracks, said retired Lt. Gen. James Scott."

This MAY sound good or ok to some, but how about those of us who are under regular treatment from VA Psychiatrists now and have tried ALL their medications and treatments, with the exception of Shock Therapy, which I hear they are considering now...you know like they did in the old days to those in Insane Asylums to calm them down. The Psychiatrist who I see EVERY 3 months at the VA is the same one who does C%P Evaluations at times. If someone has gotten 100% and dropped out of VA appointments for PTSD, then fine, re-evaluate them, but the only reason I can see for a Blanket re-evaluation is to TAKE AWAY Benefits, period...they have tried everything else to get them, so now they will finally remove some off VA Disability with Phomy Examinations created for one purpose! This makes me so mad, I couldn't sleep last night because of anxiety of not being able to work and no way to support my family if they do this to me. IF they do this, the Suicide rate among PTSD veterans will soar. Please write your Congressperson and demand a Case by Case Basis of PTSD re-evaluation if they must do this!

By the way, no where did I read about the Vet's Commission conclusion in their Study that Veterans Disability payments be raised immediately by 25%......WHY are they NOT pushing this??????????

[timetowinarace]

Time...it is a fair question, but I don't see how education has much bearing in the basis of opinions. I was a certified EMT/cardiac tech prior to the service, I was combat medic certified while on active duty, and I was a pre-med major for two years after the service, before switching my major to communications/journalism and earning a second degree in that field. The first degree was prior to entry in the service and was in business. So, so I have the knowldedge of a doctor...not by any sense of the imagination. Does that preclude me from researching topics and forming a opinion on the facts at large? No. Have I done research on mental health? I am married to a woman who has had clinical depression most of her life. I myself was diagnosed with MDD secondary to chronic pain. I have bouts of mental instability much like the ones PTSD patients suffer. I have not held a job for more than six months since I left the army (current employer notwithstanding). I grossly overreact to the smallest if issues to the point of violence more than occassionally. Also, my best friend and my nephew were both Marines in the same unit during both battles for Fallujah. Yes, they are both PTSD sufferers. I have talked them down several times, and I am the only one that these two will talk to, because I understand where they are at when they are overcome by the disease. I have done research on mental health issues for the past 15 years at least, but I am in no way anywhere near the status of an expert. But none of this really matters, because all of you are taking a defensive posture, and it's causing you to totally miss my point. The VA has every right to ensure to it's benefactors that they are not paying benefits to persons who so not deserve them. You can beat this through education. You MUST know what the regs say. You must know what the code says. You must know what the exam sheet says. Moreover, you must take the lead during these exams. You must have the worksheet with you, in plain view of the examiner, as the C&P takes place. If you don't hold them to their own regs, it's your fault if the outcome is less than favorable.

Look, I'm on your side. I don't know how many times I've said that we're all in this together. I just think that you guys are wasting precious energy by getting upset over something that is totally out of your control. You disagree with it, fine, write your elected representatives and your SO's about it. It won't get you anywhere, because the politicians want accountability. You need to be gathering your records, BVA/CAVC cases, info from the regs/codes/manuals in preparation for the upcoming exams. That way, when you do get called in for the exam, you are more than prepared. You will be viewed as a force to be reconed with, and subsequently passed over by VA. They're going to take advantage of easy prey here; the vet that is ignorant of the system. They are going to leave the vet alon who knows how to play by the rules and has this stuff together.

I agree that your position is the way the VA works. Vets must be prepared. I don't agree that it should be that way. The burden should not be on the vet to prove the claim/condition.

Reason #1. For a vet with a mental disability claim to go into an exam with, or even to provide the RO with, US Code, rating criteria, exam criteria, "take the lead", ect., gives rise to the concern that the vet has researched symptomology and is telling the examiner what is necissary through knowledge of the condition rather than experience of it. Because the vet distrusts the examiner/RO and produces knowledge of rating criteria, the examiner in turn distrusts the vet as having a true experience of the condition. This is the revolving door we are stuck in.

Reason #2. The majority of new vets with new claims have been told repeatedly during enlistment, during service, while seperating, from the VA, from VSO's, that the VA will take care of them. They file their claims and wait. The VA drops the ball, and in most cases the VSO drops the ball(in my opinion). A few get mad about it and research and fight, the rest get mad and say screw it. I suppose there is a number that are treated fairly, though I haven't personally met one.

Reason #3. What happens to those that cannot learn the system? There are many reasons why a particular vet may not be able to learn all this BS. For me it took years because of my cognative disorder. I have forgoten much of what I learn at hadit and must research almost every time I post a reply here. I keep recources so I can do that. For me the phrase that the "Veteran is his own best advocate" irritates me to no end. I understand the idea behind it, but feel it leaves some veterans swinging in the wind. I just hate when I'm told by VA employees that I fell through the cracks. My blood begins to boil. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE CRACKS! (no appology for yelling) Re-evals are possible cracks for P&T veterans.

As always, my not so humble opinion.

Time

[Pete53]

I think a lot of us are getting worked up over something that has not happened yet.

[Billyboy]

"My experience with the VA Mental Health Team is that they can find time to see you for 10 minutes or so every 2 or 3 months."

I agree Pete, the last time I saw the shrink "15 Minutes", she told me not to worry so much. Then she said we'll mail you your time for your next appointment, that was 2 months ago? go figure, bill

Edited January 27, 2008 by Billyboy

[jessejames]

http://www.vetscommission.org/pdf/Appendix...ompensation.pdf

It recommends that specific guidance

on the criteria for setting case-specific VA-initiated reevaluations be established so that the

reevaluations can be administered in a fair and consistent manner; furthermore, VBA should

collect and analyze data on VA and veteran-initiated reevaluations so that the system can be

improved in the future. The committee does not believe it is appropriate to mandate across-theboard

periodic reexaminations for beneficiaries already being compensated for PTSD. Such a

strategy would not take the diversity of the beneficiary population into account and would unduly

single out veterans with PTSD for scrutiny. Within the context of VA’s limited resources, the

committee believes that it would be best to invest in thorough C&P evaluations for new

applicants—including the clinician’s determination noted above—rather than in the blanket

review of past decisions

Jack; The Vet Disability Commission has apparently not read it's own conclusions that the re-eavluations should be done a case by case basis, since it seems to me they are now pushing for a Blanket re-evaluation with the reason being "that you won't know if the treatment is working unless you re-evaluate." My problem with this is, in the case of PTSD, if you are being seen and treated every 3 months by a VA Psychiatrist, what is the difference in this and a re-evaluation? And I have a problem being "re-evaluated" most likely by a hired Contract Firm who gets it's bonus's based on the savings it makes for the VA. The threat of these Blanket re-evaluations to us with severe PTSD was suggested before by the Vet's Committee as I remember and was backed off of because the anxiety it was causing and I think it even caused suicide. see again: http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfJAN08/nf012508-9.htm

http://www.thewindsofchange.org/discus/mes...html?1124158332

[Jack]

Jack; The Vet Disability Commission has apparently not read it's own conclusions that the re-eavluations should be done a case by case basis, since it seems to me they are now pushing for a Blanket re-evaluation with the reason being "that you won't know if the treatment is working unless you re-evaluate." My problem with this is, in the case of PTSD, if you are being seen and treated every 3 months by a VA Psychiatrist, what is the difference in this and a re-evaluation? And I have a problem being "re-evaluated" most likely by a hired Contract Firm who gets it's bonus's based on the savings it makes for the VA. The threat of these Blanket re-evaluations to us with severe PTSD was suggested before by the Vet's Committee as I remember and was backed off of because the anxiety it was causing and I think it even caused suicide. see again: http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfJAN08/nf012508-9.htm

http://www.thewindsofchange.org/discus/mes...html?1124158332

I am fully aware of what you are saying; I have severe PTSD and have not been in treatment since 1999, I always had negative reactions with the medications as prescribed. I did more than ten years of treatment before it was pointed out that I had no benefit from counseling as they stated I was allergic to the medication and was taken off the medication regime and noted in my records I did continue on for about four more years of counseling every week until I was asked if I felt like I had made any progress I clearly stated no and was given my exit papers from treatment. I first filed my claim in 1975 and was quickly denied as a personality disorder, so like every good American I just faked it in the job market until I made it 49 jobs and almost thirty years later I was awarded for PTSD and Major depression both noted in the SMR I did re file in 1991 and was awarded SSDI it took nine more years to get rated from the VA on the very same claim I became too familiar with the run around that the VA can play in denying a claim I made it to the VBA seven times with a remand each time until I filed a CUE and won my claim the retro check came in the amount of $237,000.00 I lost my whole family married and children and both parents as well brothers during this time. Every time a letter comes from the VA I just stand there with the shakes and cold sweats it takes almost a full week before I will open it only to find out that they just are seeing if I have been employed. In my case my SMR states that I need to seek treatment once outside of the military though the VA I did and was kicked in the teeth, in the early 80’s I tried to seek help at the VA in San Francisco only to be put in a locked room for more than eight hours with no food or water and only a police officer to escort me out of the hospital and never saw a DR. I did swallow all they had to give me and even made through the PTSD program today I could not even think of seeing a VA Dr for any reason what so ever. Today I stay at home and go nowhere I have become a recluse and almost trust no one. I very seldom post here however I have been a member since TBird started Hadit, I will always hold a special palace my heart for her and the members that are here to help others. So what will this mean for me I don’t know I just know that the VA has been on a screwed up mission from the very beginning and needs change is this good for us only time will tell.

Jack class of 71 and 73 North central Highlands USAF I still have my pride.