ptsd Getting The Shaft On C&p

[souldeliverer]

PLEASE HELP ME!!!

I am an Iraq veteran rated 100% PTSD, 30% migraines, 10% low back, 10% shoulder, 10% tinnitus, 10% L leg, 10% R leg. I recieved a call today from the regional office that they have reviewed my claim and decided I must be better, and are reducing me to a grand total of 90%!!!

First of all, I am not better. Secondly, they have me on hydrocodone, xanax, risperdone, lamictal, celexa, ambien, amitriptaline, motrin, and had me on morphine, but I stopped taking it due to side effects. I STILL have PTSD, and am ready to go ballistic on these people at the regional office.

Question: What chance do I have of winning my appeal/board meeting? I have not been an inpatient for like a year because I get worse when I go to the hospital and get locked up.

Please help. I just had a baby girl, and cannot live without my full benefits. I tried going back to work a couple years ago and failed miserably.

[souldeliverer]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you all so much for your advice. I am trying real hard to settle down a bit. I guess I failed to mention, they gave me another C&P back in November. From reading the record myself, there is no indication that I am getting better whatsoever. The lady on the phone said the reason they are proposing to reduce my benefits is because on that C&P, there is a question asking if I suffer from full occupational impairment. He checked no. The next question was, do PTSD signs and symptoms result in deficiencies in the following areas (judgement, thinking, family relations, work, mood, or school)? And he said yes to all! How in the hell can I be impaired in all of those ways, yet be fit to work??????

Secondly, he diagnosed me with PTSD, chronic, severe; and major depressive disorder. My GAF score was 42.

What are my chances with this appeal? Why are they messing with me? Are they going to do this to you next? Are they doing this because they are broke?

[souldeliverer]

I forgot to mention, I go to ALL my scheduled appts. I go to my psychiatrist every three months now. I see a social worker anywhere from once per week to once per month. I order all my meds on time over the phone. I don't think I did anything wrong. WTF?!

[rdawg]

PLEASE HELP ME!!!

I am an Iraq veteran rated 100% PTSD, 30% migraines, 10% low back, 10% shoulder, 10% tinnitus, 10% L leg, 10% R leg. I recieved a call today from the regional office that they have reviewed my claim and decided I must be better, and are reducing me to a grand total of 90%!!!

First of all, I am not better. Secondly, they have me on hydrocodone, xanax, risperdone, lamictal, celexa, ambien, amitriptaline, motrin, and had me on morphine, but I stopped taking it due to side effects. I STILL have PTSD, and am ready to go ballistic on these people at the regional office.

Question: What chance do I have of winning my appeal/board meeting? I have not been an inpatient for like a year because I get worse when I go to the hospital and get locked up.

Please help. I just had a baby girl, and cannot live without my full benefits. I tried going back to work a couple years ago and failed miserably.

what was the reason for the c&p in november? Did you ask for an increase on one of your conditions other than ptsd?

Reading your other posts - it looks like the DR. just checked the wrong box. The VA should not be abler to reduce you just because of a checkbox. Did they even read the write up stating your were impaired?? work?family?etc? It's such a double standard...if someone is applying for benifits everthing must be spelled out precicely in order to obtain the benefits but to reduce they only need a checkmark on a boxand can ignore all the other supporting evidence. This burns my ass when I hear this stuff!!!

[souldeliverer]

what was the reason for the c&p in november? Did you ask for an increase on one of your conditions other than ptsd?

Reading your other posts - it looks like the DR. just checked the wrong box. The VA should not be abler to reduce you just because of a checkbox. Did they even read the write up stating your were impaired?? work?family?etc? It's such a double standard...if someone is applying for benifits everthing must be spelled out precicely in order to obtain the benefits but to reduce they only need a checkmark on a boxand can ignore all the other supporting evidence. This burns my ass when I hear this stuff!!!

I had requested to be made P&T last August because I found out my wife was pregnant and we needed health insurance. I found out the hard way (being denied) that you don't get CHAMPVA unless you are 100% P&T. So the VA said, okay, you need insurance for your family, take a decrease and have a nice day. BTW, thanks for your service. I am FURIOUS right now.

The lady told me yesterday that the paperwork is in the mail for me to file disagreement and ask for a hearing. What happens at these hearings? She said to bring witnesses if I want. What kind of witnesses> My wife would testify, but said she wouldn't want to if they would grill her. Has anyone here been through one of these hearings and survived?

[Testvet]

I would get into see your regular shrink and get him to put into the treatment notes that you are not employable and he does not see whnn and if you will recover enough in the foreseeable future to become employable.

Mine wrote that he considered me totally and permantently disabled just by my PTSD symptoms and my GAFs floated between 30 and 45 for 3 years they first awarded me 50% I filed an appeal then a year later after his second letter stating the same thing they awarded me the 100% back to Dec 2003 since you are an Iraq war vet I am sure they will give you either annual or bi annual exams for awhile and keep trying to reduce you or after about 5 years they will make you P&T and then leave you alone

It's a shitty system and they have all the rules in their favor but if they put it in writing they propose to reduce you immediately file an appeal the same day if possible and get a date stamped copy you and your family don't need this stress welcome to the world of the real VA it sux

If they deny your appeal and live in the southeast I have a great VA lawyer she is a JAG officer from the Air Force who got out and is doing only veterans claims in Columbia SC. I would recommend her to anyone

Edited March 27, 2008 by Testvet

[souldeliverer]

I would get into see your regular shrink and get him to put into the treatment notes that you are not employable and he does not see whnn and if you will recover enough in the foreseeable future to become employable.

Mine wrote that he considered me totally and permantently disabled just by my PTSD symptoms and my GAFs floated between 30 and 45 for 3 years they first awarded me 50% I filed an appeal then a year later after his second letter stating the same thing they awarded me the 100% back to Dec 2003 since you are an Iraq war vet I am sure they will give you either annual or bi annual exams for awhile and keep trying to reduce you or after about 5 years they will make you P&T and then leave you alone

It's a shitty system and they have all the rules in their favor but if they put it in writing they propose to reduce you immediately file an appeal the same day if possible and get a date stamped copy you and your family don't need this stress welcome to the world of the real VA it sux

If they deny your appeal and live in the southeast I have a great VA lawyer she is a JAG officer from the Air Force who got out and is doing only veterans claims in Columbia SC. I would recommend her to anyone

Thank you so much testvet for your info. I live in the Nashville area. Could you please email that lawers info to me just in case I need it and cannot get in touch with you? How do I get a date stamped copy of my descision to appeal?