Any Last Minute Advice For Monday Mental C&p ?

[dav_marine72]

Hi Everyone,

Going for a 2nd C&P exam at the VARO. The first was in 2005. They rated 30% secondary to my back. My back is 20% ortho and 10% neuro at U.S. court of appeals. Will be getting a remand hopefully based on BVA not considering to IMEs. Anyway first rating was based on depression, daily panic attacks, demotivation. I appealed and now I am back again. One of the problems I think I had with my back was I don't show pain or emotions to strangers well. Hence the low ratings for 3 levels of DDD with epidural scarring and sharp shooting leg, buttock, and testicle pain with numbness.

Anyway since this 2005 exam my back and mental conditions have gotten 200% worse. I take 4-5 oxys for the pain and still have 3-4 panic attacks a day. My ativan has been increased once and my buspar twice without any change. I have been on Zoloft 60mg since 2002. In addition I cry a couple of times a day for no reason and have suicidal thoughts. I have been in therapy since March (got private insurance again) and my therapist wrote a letter stating I have multiple panic attacks / anxiety a day. Stated that my mental condition has a severe impact on my professional and social life. I also had my wife write a notarized letter stating all of the above in addition to my irritability, violence against walls and other non-human objects, 8 jobs in less than 4 years, some fire and some I left because I couldn't get along with co-workers or boss, the fact I am always yelling at her and the kids for no reason, the stress the drugs have put on our marriage because I can't get it up or finish if I can, lack of wanting to also, witnessed me crying for no reason, the stress all my sc appointments put on the family, and the fact I'm a social outcast.

Given the my past experience of not being able to open up to my true symptoms in front of the examiner I think I have to try and let it all out this time. I don't want this thing going to the BVA and then maybe the court again. I don't want to wait 4 years for any money. I know the evidence show at least 50% here.

Anyone else have to do the same to show their true symptoms? Any adive would be appreciated. I am scared I'm going to get screwed again.

[Rockhound]

WARNING! tHIS IS NOT MENT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY, THEN AGAIN?

If your on any psychiatric medications, stop taking them. NOT A GOOD IDEA, OR IS IT?

Stop all personal hygiene and grooming, Stop eating a regular diet, Drink high caffene drinks, If you can, ware the same clothes from today, those you plan to where to the C&P, maybe work up a sweat, Try not to sleep until after you C&P. All not very good ideas, but in some cases is already a norm.

I'm to proud and was taught to bath and change out my underclothes before visiting a Dr., which probably has cost me in the long run. It's hard for them to think of you as having problems when your seen at your best. I think Social Services should make home visits for people who have mental problems as part of any psych work up. You then get a more balanced understanding of the persons social and industrial adaptability.

I can tell you my home invironment is pretty much a 180 of my public appearance most of the time, but I can't help it, wanting people to look and act around me like I was a normal person when I know I am not. I've learned how to seperate my two faces over the past 35 years so well, it has become a part of my life to such a degree, it harms my ability to get the help I really need and should have. It's like a dislexic person or someone who can't read,they find ways to hide their problem and unless something drastic happens, they go on with life as if they are as normal as you and me, when in fact, they struggle each and every day just to survive and maintain their appearance of a normal person.

Fight this erg to look and act normal, think of your worst day and try to confer that idea to the C&P examiner if at all possible. Don't exagerate, but don't sugger cote it because you are imbarressed or ashamed at how you think he might think of you either.

If you have medical notation in your medical records that document any of the bad times, highlight them and show them to the Examiner, so he won't think you are telling a story. Personal letters from friends who see you on a regular basis and see you when you appear OK and when you are not. If their is a reason listed for why you are taking a particular psch med, make sure that is documented in your medical records and make sure it is noted that it is for the condition for which you are seeking SC for or for an increase.

Above all else, keep your answers simple, try not to go into a rage unless that is part of your problem, and above all else, refrain from eye contact as much as possible, take your time in your answers, think about the question first, ask a question if you do not understand the reason for the question. Another thing I have noted, if the phone should ring in the examiner's office during your exam, as far as I concerned, this is a ploy to see how you react to it, since their is no lagitament reason for such a call, they have not emergencies to respond to, they have no patients to attend to, so if they do get a phone call, I would respond by asking the examiner that maybe you should come back at a better time when he isn't so busy and can spend his undevided attention to you and your exam. You wouldn't want him to be distracted and imput something that would otherwise be interpreted in an unfavorable light due to such distractions. This is just me, because I am somewhat paranoid anyway.

Being paranoid, the list can go on and on, but I think from what others have said and my schude opinion, you have a lot to ponder between now and then.

Rockhound Rider :P

[john999]

Forget to shave for about two weeks and have some B.O. with your shirt hanging out always helps. A belt about ten sizes too large, high water pants, and greasy, uncombed hair and bad breath is a plus. Maybe eat an onion before you go or some garlic. Get someone else to drive you to the exam like a wife or GF. No eye contact if possible as Rock says. Alex said to sleep in your clothes for about three days before the exam. You may be divorced after this but you might be a decent rating.

[Josephine]

Believe these guys for they know what they are talking about!!!

My advice never remember the three words, they ask you to remember and

to repeat back to them later. Do not spell the word " world"

backwards. Don't remember who the president is and never repeat the

days of the week in reverse. Actually don't remember the day of the

week.

Do I trust these people, absolutely not.

Betty

[dav_marine72]

Thanks everyone. It's sad but true what we have to do to try and get a decent rating. I don't care though I'm tired of being screwed around on this. As far as I am concerned Monday morning will be my worst day. My worst should make for the best rating possible. Then it's back to getting screwed by the U.S. court of appeals. Just for fun the VARO never sent 2 of my claims to the BVA and claimed I missed the appeal on them. Funny I sent evidence down to the BVA for a year and a half because the VARO told me the claims were there. Now I have to fight them even though I can show I sent my NOD in. No wonder why their offices are protected by cops with guns and metal detectors..............

[cowgirl]

Dav_marine, my best wishes for you and Hoo-rah too. (my voice aint too deep tho).

Dont get if your mh is sc or not, my mh c&p took a long time, few breaks unless I asked. Notes included references to my walking into the office and telephone calls made during a break. Certainly wish you the best. trying to recall my mh c&p, think I described fond early childhood memories of parents and role models before joining the military. When asked to draw pictures made a smiling mom hugging me and smiling dad holding my hand or eating together.

If I had to 'redo' my mh exam now, I'd study the exam sheet, didnt have a clue the first time. Took me years to get correct rating 30%. First c&p doc was picture of weird, made Adams family look normal. I deserve extra % just for that experience. Docs money in mail when patient enters.

Also got sc D3 back issues and eat snacks often to balance my meds. Most places I go today, hard to sit for more than 15 minutes before getting up carefully, stretch a little, move gingerly, dont twist adjust lil travel pillow for lumbar support and walk straight forward like my physical therapists suggest. Hard to stand for long either. Husband says I wiggle. Oh and I do carry my own snacks too.

Got young VA psych dr, helps with sc mdd, seems to know very little about real military experiences, soooo...I explain.

....about institutional 'living' conditions, drugs, rampant infidelity, weather exposure, mandatory commands to follow or else, unrequested transfers to foreign countries (or stateside bases) destroyed families, previewed personal mail, request for medical care denied, mission first. Tough making freinds today years later with civilian women or men that don't 'get it' - hurryupwaitinline, 5 minute onthejobtraining from newly transfered brownoser commander cant discharge thanks cya to 'patron' politician uncle, midnight fivefingerrequisiton, forced retraining into another job field due to'overages', dontgripekeepyerchinupsoldier, 24/7 life with restricted civil liberties and low person in the unit sacrifices first. Havent explained UCMJ yet,,,,,.

All the best and wishing you all the luck,

Cg'ip!

[william n]

Cg, well put ,exam sheet is key, all good info. :P ;) ....Peace, Bill

P.S.I wanna be there for the ;) UCMJ.

Edited September 28, 2008 by william n