C&p For Depression

[huskerfanfl]

I had a C&P examination today to increase my disability rating for depression which is currently 30%. I cannot remember everything but can remember the following

1. Loss of engaging in pleasurable activities Have not been interested in sex for six months. He asked if I could, I told him yes but have had no desire. He asked if I had friends I hang out with and I told him no. I pretty much just spent time reading and isolate through the reading.

2. He asked about my job. I have been written up for arguing with a coworker, have been denied a promotion and have continued to argue with coworkers and been short with the residents at the facility at which I work. I also told him that I was having trouble remembering what I was going to say when doing class with PowerPoints and had missed meetings because I did not feel up to going.

3. Wife has to remind me to take my medicine, have three calendars and still have to be reminded about appointments.

4. He asked if I was a church going man. I told him yes. He asked how often. I miss 75% or more.

5, He asked about temper. I admitted I through things at work and home to keep from hurting anyone. He asked if I thought about killing anyone I told him yes, but it is fleeting.

6. Asked about spending and income. I told him I have direct deposit, do not use my debit card because I had forgotten to tell my wife the last time I used it and we had bounced 3 checks as a result. He asked how I got cash and I told him my wife goes to the bank and gets me money. If I need to purchase something and do not have the cash we go to the store together.

Asked me to start at 100 and subtract 7, which took a while on each number but I did. Asked something about a low brook and noise and what I thought it meant. Asked me to spell world which I did and then spell it backwards and misspelled it I think.

He asked about my anxiety attacks and told him I still get 3 - 5 a week based on physical difficulties.

Finally he asked if my medicine I was on for depression was working and I told him that it was keeping me from killing myself so I guess that is the most I can hope for.

Forgot, he asked me about hygiene. I told him that wife has been having to remind me about that as well

All of these are true answers. Any comments?

Edited August 5, 2008 by huskerfanfl

[LarryJ]

Well, your C&P sounds almost identical to my last psych C&P. I wonder if they use the same "playbook", run the same patterns........you know, ask the same questions....kinda off a pre-printed, fill-in-the-boxes form.

I received a 70%, simply because I said "yes" when asked about "suicidal ideation".

And, I have.

Suicidally ideated, that is.

Now, that does not mean a darn thing so don't anyone go rushing to any obtuse conclusions.

I just put down what happened with me. I do know that that is WHY I got the 70% instead of the 30% (it jumps from 30% or so straight up to 70% with no stops in between, which I find interesting) simply because the rater quoted the "suicidal ideation" as the reasoning that they used for my percentage.

It probably won't work that way.

I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Do not trust me or my opinions any further than you can pitch a cow.

[LarryJ]

Well, your C&P sounds almost identical to my last psych C&P. I wonder if they use the same "playbook", run the same patterns........you know, ask the same questions....kinda off a pre-printed, fill-in-the-boxes form.

I received a 70%, simply because I said "yes" when asked about "suicidal ideation".

And, I have.

Suicidally ideated, that is.

Now, that does not mean a darn thing so don't anyone go rushing to any obtuse conclusions.

I just put down what happened with me. I do know that that is WHY I got the 70% instead of the 30% (it jumps from 30% or so straight up to 70% with no stops in between, which I find interesting) simply because the rater quoted the "suicidal ideation" as the reasoning that they used for my percentage.

It probably won't work that way.

I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Do not trust me or my opinions any further than you can pitch a cow.

Oh, and one other thing and that is your, oh crap, whadda call it (short term memory, WHAT short term memory?). The thing that they rate your at 50 or 60 or 40 or whatever? Somebody help me out here......... Anyway, you will come more likely getting 70% if you've been rated in the past at around or below 50.

[rentalguy1]

I forgot that I had put together a Mental Health Claim Repository. You can find some good info there. The rating actually goes 0-10-30-50-70-100. I had suicidal ideation as well and only got 30%. Low balled, for sure. It can be a crap shoot with the rater. When we see your C&P results we'll know more.

[john999]

I think the rating you get based on a VA C&P exam is a crap shoot. It is subjective and differs so much from one VARO to another I am astounded at times. I always mentioned suicidal ideation and the VA told me that unless I had a "plan" then that would not justify anthing beyound 30%. At my VARO unless you tell them you are going home and blow your brains out they just shrug it off. If you go to the VA ER and tell them you are going to kill yourself they still quiz you about your intent before they will admit you. I remember one time when I was paranoid I told the C&P doctor I believed people were plotting to kill me I got 10% confirmed, and I had a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. A few years later I went for an exam and got 30% for being bi-polar. This is when I realized that if I just kept at it I would get a decent rating by chance. I enhanced my chances by getting private medical opinions and getting a DRO hearing. I filed in the 70's when unless you were chewing the carpet you got 10%.

[huskerfanfl]

Thank you all for your input. John999, I know what you mean, I told them about my suicidal ideations the first time around and got the 30% rating

[Pete53]

Huskerfan:

You are very depressed but from your profile you have an 80% overall rating. I would say that as long as you are working it is unlikely that VA is going to bump your rating as it is.

However, if you can no longer work you should have little or no trouble going to 100%.

Your symptoms are 100% but working moderates it. If you went to 50% from 30% maybe it would move you to 90%

I hope that this makes some sort of sense.