ptsd Acquired Psychiatric Disorder

[les]

I was denide ptsd over a year ago which I have apealed. The c&p Psych said I do not qualify for ptsd but do qualify for major depression. I was at a plane crash were 67 people were killed, it was a allfull sight to see. I called the 1-800# today and they told me the page said service connection for aquired psychiactric disorder. Now I am confused as to what this means. I have been on ssd for 4 years now And the dro has been waiting for my ssd med records. Does anyone know the difference between depression and Acquired Psychiatric disorder? Also what rating does this carry?

[john999]

I think this means you have been SC'ed for depression or PTSD. It amounts to the same thing since you are SC'ed for a psychiatric disorder. Now the question is what is your rating? The rating could be from 10% to a 100% depending on your symptoms.

[Berta]

Whatever the diagnosis is-

there must be a proven event or stressor or accident etc- that caused the disability.

Did this doctor state in the record that your depression was caused by witnessing this inservice event?

What do you get SSA for and is this solely based on your inservice witnessing of this event?

Did you help handle the rescue or recovery of the crash victims as part of your inservice MOS?

It is hard to determine a rating-

also the BVA wen site- if you search the above medical terms- will show how different these disabilities are as to the diagnosis.

All mental disabilities are rated the same way however.

[Berta]

http://www.va.gov/vetapp07/files1/0704898.txt

This decision might help explain what I meant -but I am surprised that the doc changed your diagnosis-from PTSD.

This vet was on a golf course during service and witnessed a crash-he knew the pilot who was killed in it.He had a clear diagnosis of PTSD.

I would think that witnessing a plane crash puts one close enough to the scene where they themselves could have been

killed or injured- and thus that would be a "life threateneing" stressor- one criteria for PTSD diagnosis.

A small plane crashed in the village down the hill here years ago. The volunteer ambulance corp needed some counselling

after they handled the call , Everyone on board died. The people who live on the road it crashed on- for a very long time- feared a plane would land on them. That is the essense of PTSD.

[les]

Hi Berta. In my c&p I was denide sc for ptsd but did qualify for major depression.

[Berta]

I understood that Les- but this is critical:

"Did this doctor state in the record that your depression was caused by witnessing this inservice event?"

This was a C & P exam as I understand you- so he had to make a nexus statement-

a medical link of the depression to the inservice event-

it makes sense to me that either diagnosis can possibly get you service connected-

but the VA needs these nexus statements to be very clear-

I am concerned too that with a depression diagnosis - would you have to re-file a claim as SC claim for SC depression? Or clarify this right away with the VA in your NOD?

"I have been on ssd for 4 years now" Is the SSD for depression?

hope others give their opinions-

dont get me wrong-I feel you have a valid claim- I just look for the landmines that VA can put in front of us in their war of the words.

do you have a Vet rep or service officer helping you with this claim?

Something else is bothering veteran-

were they giving you anti anxiety meds for PTSD and then changed the meds to meds that treat depression?

The meds can support your claim too- I just hope that this change in diagnosis does not "confuse" them---

What was the specific reason they denied you for?

Edited February 12, 2008 by Berta

[les]

Reply to Berta. I just today received my gold envolpe. Decision: Service conection for any psychiatric disorder remains denide. Your sevice medical records show no findings regarding any complaint, diagnosis, or treatment of ant psychiatric disorder. The above cited and listed evidence, received and reviewed in connection with this claim, fails to establish any relationship between your current condition and any disease or injury during military service. Your sevice medical records are negitive for any complaints, treatment or a diagnosis of post tramatic stress disorder. Your personnel records confirm that you were stationed at Azores from May 18, 1976 to January 1 1977. We extracted documentation from the internet that shows there was a plane crash on September 3, 1976 at the Lajes, Azores, Portugal. A lay statement from your brother, Larry ******, Dated December 17, 2005 indicates that you witnessed a plane crash in the Azores in which no one came out alive. Out paient progress from the Va medical center In Lebanon Pa. from March 31, 2003 to Febuary 17, 2006 shows that your screen for PTSD was positive. You requested an evaluation for anxiety and depression that has been getting worse. At your VA examination concluded on July 26, 2006 you indicated that a plane crash on the Island of Azores in the Atlantic. There were 68 choir boys and girls on board. They were students on their way to preform a concert in Portugal. You volunteered to respond to the call for help on the radio, but you were prevented from helping with the rescue efforts. On mental status examination, there was evidence of emotional withdrawl and isolation, but you are not psychotic. You admitted to a history of cannabis use, and continue to drink in moderation by your own account, and excessive by history. You had a dysthymic affect. You tend to be socially introversive, but are comprtent to handle your finances. The VA examiner indicated that you are resistive to psychotherapy, and this accounts for you chronic depression. The VA examiner opined that you do not meet the criteria for PTSD, but you do qualify for a diagnosis of major depessive disorder, mild to moderate with a history of polysubstance abuse. A diagnosis of post-tramatic stress disorder must meet all diagnostic criteria as stated in the Diagostic and statistical manual of mental disorders published by the american psychiatric association. The evidence does not show a confirmed diagnosis of post- tramatic stress disorder that would permit a finding of service connection. THE END OF STATEMNT OF CASE. I did respond to the crash site and even took pictures of the crash site which I sent to the Va. The pictures showed the carnage and the bodies being placed in the black body bags. If this does not constitute PTSD it must be really hard to get it. Also I never made a claim all these years because I never knew I may be able to file a claim untill 5 years ago. Berta you ask me some other question and I am working on a responce to them. Any help on were I go from here I thank you! I know I must send in a form 9 within 60 days.