ptsd Aid And Attendance Other Than Housebound Mental Disability Ptsd

[Tbird]

veteran Total 160% being paid at smc s 100% PTSD Schedular, currently it has been determined that this veteran get a payee a relative has stepped forward, va wants letter from va pysch doc and va pyschologist - pyschologist idea so no problem there - va wants to send veteran application for aid and attendance currently the veteran has these problems he needs help with

reminders to shower

reminders to eat

rides to appointments or stores (sometimes, sometimes veteran can drive himself, others not he disassociates)

help with grocery shopping

does any of that constitue a higher level than smc s, veteran can focus on certain things quite well, but can't seem to manage his day to day life

opinions

thanks

Tbird

[Tbird]

bump

[Wings]

Evidence of inability to care for himself and dependence on caretakers:

Driving Record?

Medications?

Getting lost, forgetting where he parked, how to get home?

Forgetting names and places, time of day, day of week?

Falling in shower/bath/toilet?

Combativeness?

Burning food on stove?

Unaware of household hazards/use a fire extinquisher/electrical outlets/propane or gas?

Can't think of more right now. . . ~Wings

[Tbird]

my concern is that i hate to see him go through another c & p if he doesn't get anywhere with it. he is and out of it regularly one week ok another week he doesn't get out of bed, takes his meds regularly and then not at all. drives himself to his appointments, or cancels all appointments because he can't get out of the house, it's really an up and down thing and he already gets housebound.

he's very sharp sometimes, and then forgets to put his shoes on, it's a tough call, i really thought anything other than smc s was for physical disabilites, so at first i was thinking he shouldn't apply for a and a since his stuff is all mental, but thought i'd get others opionion on this.

thanks wings, your post helps

Evidence of inability to care for himself and dependence on caretakers:

Driving Record?

Medications?

Getting lost, forgetting where he parked, how to get home?

Forgetting names and places, time of day, day of week?

Falling in shower/bath/toilet?

Combativeness?

Burning food on stove?

Unaware of household hazards/use a fire extinquisher/electrical outlets/propane or gas?

Can't think of more right now. . . ~Wings

[Wings]

x

x

x

Tbird, He wants to apply for HOUSEBOUND, not A&A. These are two separate animals. ALSO, The Exam below does not show GAF, but for Mental Disorder/Housebound purposes, the GAF should be recorded. ~Wings

Aid and Attendance or Housebound Examination

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/disexm02.htm

Name:

SSN:

Date of Exam:

C-number:

Place of Exam:

Narrative: Once the existence of at least one permanent disability rated at 100% has been established, additional benefits may be payable if the veteran requires:

The regular assistance of another person in attending to the ordinary activities of daily living,

Assistance of another in protecting himself or herself from the ordinary hazards of his or her daily environment, and/or

If the veteran is restricted to his or her home or the immediate vicinity thereof, including the ward or immediate clinical area, if hospitalized.

A. Review of Medical Records:

B. Medical History (Subjective Complaints):

Indicate whether or not the veteran requires an attendant in reporting for this exam, and if so, identify the nurse or attendant and the mode of travel employed.

Indicate whether or not the veteran is hospitalized, and if so, state where and the date of admission.

Indicate whether or not the veteran is permanently bedridden.

Indicate whether or not the veteran's best corrected vision is 5/200 or worse in both eyes

State whether the veteran is capable of managing benefit payments in his or her own best interests without restriction. A physical disability which prevents the veteran from attending to financial matters in person is not a proper basis for a finding of incompetency unless he or she is, by reason of that disability, incapable of directing someone else in handling financial affairs.

Capacity to protect oneself from the hazards/dangers of daily environment:

Describe briefly any pathological processes involving other body parts and systems, including the effects of advancing age, such as dizziness, loss of memory, poor balance affecting ability to ambulate, performing self-care, or travel beyond the premises of the home (or the ward or clinical area if hospitalized).

Describe where the veteran goes and what he or she does during a typical day.

C. Physical Examination (Objective Findings):

Comment on:

General appearance.

Height and weight (including maximum and minimum weight for past year).

Build and posture.

State of nutrition.

Gait.

Temperature, pulse, respiration.

Blood pressure.

Upper extremities (reporting each upper extremity separately):

Describe functional restrictions with reference to strength and coordination and ability for self-feeding, fastening clothing, bathing, shaving, and toileting. If amputated, indicate level of amputation (or length of stump and state whether or not use of a prosthesis is feasible).

9. Lower extremities (reporting each lower extremity separately): Describe functional restrictions with reference to extent of limitation of motion, muscle atrophy, contractures, weakness, lack of coordination, or other interference.

Indicate any deficits of weight bearing, balance and propulsion. If amputated, indicate level of amputation (or length of stump and state whether use of a prosthesis is feasible).

10. Spine, trunk and neck: a. Describe any limitation of motion or deformity of lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine.

Note if deformity of thoracic spine interferes with breathing.

Ambulation: Indicate whether the veteran is able to walk without the assistance of another person and give the maximum distance.

Indicate any mechanical aid used or recommended by the examiner for ambulation.

Indicate the frequency, and under what circumstances, the veteran is able to leave the home or immediate premises.

13. Except as to amputations and other anatomical losses, indicate if any restrictions noted in the examination are permanent.

D. Diagnostic and Clinical Tests:

No specific diagnostic testing required unless required to evaluate the veteran as required above.

Include results of all diagnostic and clinical tests conducted in the examination report.

E. Diagnosis:

Signature: Date:

Edited October 7, 2008 by Wings

[Teac]

He may not have to go to a C/P exam for this. In my case, I requested a letter from my VA primary care doctor and he at the same time completed the exam worksheet. I submitted them to the VA regional office and I was granted housebound with out going to a c/p exam.

In is my understanding however that if the veteran is 100% schedular for one medical problem and 60% for another medical problem that he should be granted a schedular housebound rating automatically... but that does not mean the va is always going to grant automatically still must request it.

Good luck

[Tbird]

the veterans is getting paid at housebound rate right now, but when he talked to the va about getting a payee they suggested he file for aid and attendance and just not sure he would get anywhere with that. he has no amputations, or anything like that. he can manage it seems sometimes or others not, he needs help with housecleaning, paying bills and making sure he has groceries in the house and that his meds get reordered and that he is taking them, eating and showering on a regular basis. i think housebound is the max for him which he does get, but wanted to know if anyone else has been through this.

He may not have to go to a C/P exam for this. In my case, I requested a letter from my VA primary care doctor and he at the same time completed the exam worksheet. I submitted them to the VA regional office and I was granted housebound with out going to a c/p exam.

In is my understanding however that if the veteran is 100% schedular for one medical problem and 60% for another medical problem that he should be granted a schedular housebound rating automatically... but that does not mean the va is always going to grant automatically still must request it.

Good luck