It's A Miracle, I'm Cured!

[Rockhound]

Picked up my latest medical records for my files and to my surprise, my MHC Psychiatrist finally wrote in my charts as follow:

"One report said he thought he had a personality disorder. Today a brieft screen of boderline, dependent, antisocial, and schizotypal personality disorders were done. There are no obvious evidence the he meet criteria for these. MMPI was done in 2005, there was no report of personality disorder during that time either."

The only problem with this entry, is that it does not go far enough, in that my Psychiatrist would not give an opinion using these current findings and my records to refute the diagnosis of the personality disorder the VA C&P examiner gave me 35 yrs ago that was used as an alternate and/or changed diagnosis that was used to deny my claim for SC of a psychiatric disorder that arose while I was in the service.

Any suggestions on how I could use this as new and material evidence or as a basis to cue the prior diagnosis? Note that nothing in my records show or state that the original diagnosis of the psychiatric disorder was unmistakenly in error to warrent such a change. But the VA did it anyway.

Can one even be cured from having a personality disorder without any psychiatric intervention, can it resolve on its own?

Rockhound ;)

[Pete53]

I am glad that you are cured.

The only way in my opinion to refute a VA attack on past is to get your own Outside Medical Opinion to refute the VA Quacks.

Good Luck

[free_spirit_etc]

I wonder if we could get some stats showing that a the number of veterans entering the service just fine, and ending up leaving with "personality disorders" is so out of proportion to the incidence of personality disorders in the general population - that there must be something in the service causing these personality disorders that are SO military specific that they can only be recognized by VA doctors.

Wouldn't that make a good case for making them a presumptive illness?

Do it kind of like a blend between the AO presumption and the "undiagnosed illness" of Desert Storm.

If you were ever in the military and end up with a personality disorder that is undiagnosed by a civilian doctor, and only apparent to the VA doctors - automatic SC.

Double SC

You get one SC for the personality disorder thay only appears in military related settings.

And one SC for the anxiety that is secondary to your VA induced personality disorder.

FREE

[free_spirit_etc]

The answer to the Personality Disorder is No. They usually do not resolve themselves - though they can improve with treatment.

I am with Pete though - I think you will need an IMO. You will need a doctor to say that. If they gave you the diagnosis with no testing. And your testing does not indicate you have it - it will help with an IMO immensely.

AND if you have the MHC doc putting in your notes that you were tested for PD and did not have it, and an IMO that says what you do not have it - the two support each other. (i.e. stronger case).

A doctor who won't write an actual "opinion" can still be part of a strong chain of evidence. I have even seen the BVA give MUCH weight to what they do write in your favor...and remark that they find it credible because it is your medical records - and NOT an opinion.

Of course the IMO you submit is going to be in your favor. But the facts that are in your medical records also HELP alot. You have one doctor who spells it out - and another doctor whose documentation supports that.

Free

Picked up my latest medical records for my files and to my surprise, my MHC Psychiatrist finally wrote in my charts as follow:

"One report said he thought he had a personality disorder. Today a brieft screen of boderline, dependent, antisocial, and schizotypal personality disorders were done. There are no obvious evidence the he meet criteria for these. MMPI was done in 2005, there was no report of personality disorder during that time either."

The only problem with this entry, is that it does not go far enough, in that my Psychiatrist would not give an opinion using these current findings and my records to refute the diagnosis of the personality disorder the VA C&P examiner gave me 35 yrs ago that was used as an alternate and/or changed diagnosis that was used to deny my claim for SC of a psychiatric disorder that arose while I was in the service.

Any suggestions on how I could use this as new and material evidence or as a basis to cue the prior diagnosis? Note that nothing in my records show or state that the original diagnosis of the psychiatric disorder was unmistakenly in error to warrent such a change. But the VA did it anyway.

Can one even be cured from having a personality disorder without any psychiatric intervention, can it resolve on its own?

Rockhound ;)

[Pete53]

Re: VA using Personality Disorder to not award benefits.

Happens all the time and happened to me. I overcame with an IMO and also a challenge to the diagnosis asking the VARO to show what Personality Disorder I had and that I did not have the symptroms needed to give a PD Diagnosis.

If you had trouble in school, been jailed, got in fights, lit fires you might have a PD. If you did ok in school no problems with law maybe not. PTSD can also look like some of the symptoms but it is not.

We used to have a lady who was helping her husband who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. That VA called PD but over time and with a proper IMO they won 100%.

I remember reading that Congress was looking into the 29,000 disharges in one year for Personality Disorders.

[picatta 2]

Rockhound,

I was discharged in 1982 from the US Army with personality disorder But it was not my disorder, it was my frist sgt's. He was making it clear that I would bed him or else. He had bedded ever other female in the company and he wanted me. My E-6 was pcsing and could no longer look out for me so he requested this type of discharge. When years later went to claim Pstd I had to show that I had been raped and bothered by the men of the post. Which in my case was easy. I also gave information on my E-6 who was contacted and he wrote a letter explaining how come I received this discharge. I realise this will not help you but it explain one of the reasons so many are giving this dicharge as it is easy to get someone out who has giving up on getting a fair shake in the miltary. My husband at the time when on the do 25yrs. and one of our sons went in and the 2nd is trying now. Best of luck in your fight. Picatta

[ruby]

Exactly what is considered PD by the VA? I have always wondered what this meant.