ptsd Pain And Depression

[hawkcrewchief]

I recently had a C&P exam and the doctor told me that pain is not a disability he told me I had to prove how my injury has disabled me. But if my pain is a daily thing, if I wake up in pain go to sleep with pain, cant stand lights, noise etc etc. and Im only 28 y/o this is very depressing to me. I am a tough guy some friends and family say I am crazy/paranoid etc etc but it is what it is I cant help what ive become. But isnt my depression secondary to all my service connected injuries even if most are 0%? I have a OSA study coming up as well as a TBI consult maybe they can shine some light on my issues. But like I have posted before I was scared of getting a PTSD diagnosis but after reading things on here I no longer fear facing the truth, when I accept the MH consult should I bring up that my depression due to pain is in fact SC...? I confuse myself sometimes can someone unravel my thoughts?

Thanks

[LarryJ]

"I recently had a C&P exam and the doctor told me that pain is not a disability he told me I had to prove how my injury has disabled me."

Oy, but NO my friend. Your "doctor" is full of shit!

Of course pain is a disability, as those of us who have lived are are living with it can attest. BUT WAIT, there IS a disability called "pain".

It is referred to as "Chronic Pain Syndrome" and it is listed in the diagnosis manual that the VA uses.

Now, HOW, may I ask is there a "Chronic Pain Syndrome" and, yet, "pain is not a disability"!

Heck, I'VE FILED A CLAIM for it.

Just to see how they try to get around acknowledging such an animal exists.

Haven't heard anything on my claim as yet, but, then, it has just been a couple of months since I filed.

I figure if someone doesn't file a claim, and they actually have such a disability, and it exists in the diagnosis manual....then, by me filing, maybe it will become CLEARER to the VA that such a thing exists, thereby making the next person that is disabled due to pain, make their fight that much easier.

No, I don't REALLY need the rating, but, hey, you can't ever tell when the VA may get a wild hair and reduce the percentage that you NOW have. I guess I'd say that, if I'm successful, then that's my "cushion" against which the VA will have to contend, should it come to that.

[hawkcrewchief]

"I recently had a C&P exam and the doctor told me that pain is not a disability he told me I had to prove how my injury has disabled me."

Oy, but NO my friend. Your "doctor" is full of shit!

Of course pain is a disability, as those of us who have lived are are living with it can attest. BUT WAIT, there IS a disability called "pain".

It is referred to as "Chronic Pain Syndrome" and it is listed in the diagnosis manual that the VA uses.

Now, HOW, may I ask is there a "Chronic Pain Syndrome" and, yet, "pain is not a disability"!

Heck, I'VE FILED A CLAIM for it.

Just to see how they try to get around acknowledging such an animal exists.

Haven't heard anything on my claim as yet, but, then, it has just been a couple of months since I filed.

I figure if someone doesn't file a claim, and they actually have such a disability, and it exists in the diagnosis manual....then, by me filing, maybe it will become CLEARER to the VA that such a thing exists, thereby making the next person that is disabled due to pain, make their fight that much easier.

Good Luck with that claim, I wonder how they will get around it if its in the manual? Wings said that there is a way to get my zero's rated higher does anyone else know how? I will make some appointments and start building a stronger case for my pains for now I guess.

[john999]

Because their are some psychological factors in Chronic Pain Syndrome the VA lumps it into any mental inlless claim you have already. However, if you don't have a psychiatric claim then your chronic pain claim is a stand alone claim. I don't know what kind of rating percentage you can get but more than 0% I bet. I was SC'ed for chronic pain syndrome because of neuropathy due to DMII. So I get trips to the VA's crummy Pain management clinic. They give me three choices: morphine, methadone or percoset. Morphine and methadone make me sick so there is only percoset for me.

[hawkcrewchief]

My new DSL service keeps craping out on me! I'll write more when I can . . . When you have some "evidence" (from the VAMC) that things have worsened, File a Claim for an Increase on your SC conditions; also, File a Claim for Head Pain as secondary to service-connected head trauma (TMJ); File a Claim for Depression (get diagnosed) caused by multiple SC conditions; also, your multiple SC conditions at 0% should add up to compensation rate --need to check the regs. More later! ~Wings

Its ok wings I understand, Ill be here waiting now youve got me wondering about all my zero's. The depression claim would seem like I have enough pain complaints to get it thru but who knows with these people...?

[Wings]

Its ok wings I understand, Ill be here waiting now youve got me wondering about all my zero's. The depression claim would seem like I have enough pain complaints to get it thru but who knows with these people...?

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I'm not absolutely certain, but researching the hadit database and on-line, I'm gathering that --since you are already rated at 10% for Tinnitus, the regulation (below) would not apply. Section 3.324 applies only where the veteran is not rated above zero percent. Sorry about that! HOWEVER, your 0% SC conditions should warrent a claim for increased evaluation when you have evidence of a worsening disability. ~Wings

38 C.F.R. Sec. 3.324 Multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

Whenever a veteran is suffering from two or more separate permanent service-connected disabilities of such character as clearly to interfere with normal employability, even though none of the disabilities may be of compensable degree under the 1945 Schedule for Rating Disabilities the rating agency is authorized to apply a 10-percent rating, but not in combination with any other rating. [40 FR 56435, Dec. 3, 1975]