ptsd Re-eval Of Ptsd After A Routine Visit For Unrelated Ailment

[BrianinMIA]

Hail Vets!

I am an OIFII (2004) Marine with various ailments and PTSD.

April 2005 - Origin Claim was Submitted prior to my EOS date of July 2005. (San Diego VARO)

July 2005 - I moved to DC

Jan 2006 - I was awarded 10% on 11 separate physical ailments resulting in a 70% Scheduler Rating (proper terms?). (San Diego VARO)

Dec 2006 - I submitted a claim for PTSD after symptoms began to manifest and got to the point that I went in. (Washington, DC VARO)

April 2007 - I moved to New York City - began seeing a private phsycologist.

Nov 2007 - After submitting additional info and medical evals (VA and Private) I was awarded 50% PTSD (GAF 60) (Newark, NJ VARO)

October 2008 - Had to leave my job because of the stresses from my condition and move to Miami, FL. Not collecting unemployment.

March 2009 - Filled for Bankruptcy in FL.

early May 2009 - I went to the Miami VAMC to get my wrist looked at, nurse asked about my PTSD I said it persists but I manage. Nothing further.

28 May 2009 - Received a letter (from Newark, NJ VARO) saying I missed a May 7th PTSD re-evaluation appointment?? They propose to reduce my benefit from 50% PTSD to 0% reducing my 80% total to 50% total ($1,427 to $770) - not sure why it wouldn't be back to 70%.

1 June - I called them to say I got the letter and I will go for an Eval but never got notified of an appointment or got a phone call for it - also going to mail in (as operator advised) the form they sent me with the packet, to rebut their proposal to reduce my benefits.

I have had suicidal ideation since I left NYC - had stopped seeing clinicians due to the relocation. I do participate in a Vets4Vets PTSD phone support group, which is my real life line. I think my condition is acctually worse. Still unemployed, recluse - 1 or 2 friends. It's BS - life is shit.

8 June - I have a Hand Appointment with the VAMC, Should I go to C&P and schedule the eval myself? Should I enroll in their support group? Ask for Meds? I DO cope - I just don't want to be a burden on the VA (or leave my Apartment for that matter).

Any Advice?

[Philip Rogers]

BrianinMIA - make sure you keep the envelopes with those letters. Tho this just an educated guess, it sounds like the VARO, in Newark, sent it to the wrong address and when it was returned they re-sent the notice, in a new envelope, to the correct address. Save that envelope as it could be crucial in proving you weren't notified and could confirm their error, in which case they'd have to rescind their decision to reduce.

pr

I received 2 letters today -

One of them has no post mark - Miami address on letter - is dated today June 2nd, With Miami address on letter - It is from Newark to my Miami address - It says they received my application for benefits and will contact me if needed.

The other is post marked June 1st - NJ address on letter - is dated April 8th - It is from Newark as well - hand written on the envelope to my Miami address - It states that they are requesting an exam for re-eval and i will hear from someone soon.

Im going to go down to the Miami VAMC on Monday and straighten this all out in person.