Schizophrenia Aggravated

[ysraal]

I was sent to a panel of three mental health professionals to determine if my schizophrenia was aggravated during service and all three opinioned that I was. I am now diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder so will I be sc for schiz or sza?

[carlie]

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....73&idno=38

Rating

Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders9201 Schizophrenia, disorganized type

9202 Schizophrenia, catatonic type

9203 Schizophrenia, paranoid type

9204 Schizophrenia, undifferentiated type

9205 Schizophrenia, residual type; other and unspecified types

9208 Delusional disorder

9210 Psychotic disorder, not otherwise specified (atypical psychosis)

9211 Schizoaffective disorder

Edited September 6, 2009 by carlie (see edit history)

[purple]

You say it was "aggravated during service".....so you had schizophrenia prior to enlistment?

If so, did you know?

[john999]

How long were you in the service? The military would not enlist you if they knew you were schizophrenic, so I assume there was no mention of schizophrenia in your enlistment documents. Why do they assume your service aggravated instead of precipitated a schizophrenia state? What basis do they have for believing your problems pre-existed your service?

[ysraal]

How long were you in the service? The military would not enlist you if they knew you were schizophrenic, so I assume there was no mention of schizophrenia in your enlistment documents. Why do they assume your service aggravated instead of precipitated a schizophrenia state? What basis do they have for believing your problems pre-existed your service?

USMC 1yr, 9 mo 2days. Your assumption is correct. I was able to obtain pre service medical records.

[ysraal]

You say it was "aggravated during service".....so you had schizophrenia prior to enlistment?

If so, did you know?

I thought that I was fine.

[ysraal]

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-....73&idno=38

Rating

Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders9201 Schizophrenia, disorganized type

9202 Schizophrenia, catatonic type

9203 Schizophrenia, paranoid type

9204 Schizophrenia, undifferentiated type

9205 Schizophrenia, residual type; other and unspecified types

9208 Delusional disorder

9210 Psychotic disorder, not otherwise specified (atypical psychosis)

9211 Schizoaffective disorder

Thank you but I have dx of schiz para, PDNOS and schizoaffective disorder, all same syptoms seen during service when I was sent for a psychosis rule-out and they defered dx

[Rockhound]

We need more information to completely understand what it is you want answered. Are they saying that you had these problems prior to service, but that they were aggrivated by service and if aggrivated by service, was it more than what the normal progression of these problems would have been during the normal course of the disorders process?

If they are saying that you had these disorders prior to service, and that service aggrivated them. The amount of aggrivation must be more than it would be in the normal progression of these disorders in order to be found SC.

Also, as I understand it, a baseline of the symptoms must be determined, in order to determine how much it was aggrivated by being in the service and if it showed that the aggrivation was more than it would have normally been during the course of the developing disorder or disorders.

I also noted that you had a PD NOS. Do they say anything as to whether or not this was superimposed on one of the psychiatric disorders or visa versa?

Did you know that you had schizoaffective disorder prior to service and/or were you treated for psychiatric problems prior to service, and did you note these on your Induction Physical paper work? If not, how do they rationale that you had these problems prior to service?

You need to be willing to open up and give as much information as you can for those who have knowledge of these types of claims to answer your questions in a way that will be most helpfull to you on your claim.

Having a PD diagnosis in there is a big red flag for a rater to jump on to disallow your claim, even if you also have a cocomitant psychiatric disorder. They may try to ignore the others, saying that your PD is a developmental disorder and not service connectable.

This can be as far from the truth, since you also have these other dx's that can be SC or at the very least SC due to Aggrivation.

Having said all this, you may need some clarification by getting a IME/IMO from a private board certified Psychiatrist, expecially someone who specializes with those suffering from one of the number of schizophrenia disorders in the list posted earlier.

I just hope you are financially capable of getting this specialized opinion, or take it from someone who hasn't been able to, because of being on a limited and fixed income which barely pays the bills as it is.

Were are here to help if we can, but the more information you can give us, the better we can understand your situation and can either answer your questions or direct you to where you can get the information that will, or at least help you more, so that you can also help yourself and your claim.

Rockhound Rider :o

[Pete53]

Ysraal:

First let me welcome you to Hadit. How old were you when you went into the USMC.

You should not really have that much a problem obtaining service connection. Are you working?

It is very important that you are active in your treatment and compliant in taking your Meds. The same is true for many of us here on Hadit we have to take care of ourselves.

[ysraal]

We need more information to completely understand what it is you want answered. Are they saying that you had these problems prior to service, but that they were aggrivated by service and if aggrivated by service, was it more than what the normal progression of these problems would have been during the normal course of the disorders process?

If they are saying that you had these disorders prior to service, and that service aggrivated them. The amount of aggrivation must be more than it would be in the normal progression of these disorders in order to be found SC.

Also, as I understand it, a baseline of the symptoms must be determined, in order to determine how much it was aggrivated by being in the service and if it showed that the aggrivation was more than it would have normally been during the course of the developing disorder or disorders.

I also noted that you had a PD NOS. Do they say anything as to whether or not this was superimposed on one of the psychiatric disorders or visa versa?

Did you know that you had schizoaffective disorder prior to service and/or were you treated for psychiatric problems prior to service, and did you note these on your Induction Physical paper work? If not, how do they rationale that you had these problems prior to service?

You need to be willing to open up and give as much information as you can for those who have knowledge of these types of claims to answer your questions in a way that will be most helpfull to you on your claim.

Having a PD diagnosis in there is a big red flag for a rater to jump on to disallow your claim, even if you also have a cocomitant psychiatric disorder. They may try to ignore the others, saying that your PD is a developmental disorder and not service connectable.

This can be as far from the truth, since you also have these other dx's that can be SC or at the very least SC due to Aggrivation.

Having said all this, you may need some clarification by getting a IME/IMO from a private board certified Psychiatrist, expecially someone who specializes with those suffering from one of the number of schizophrenia disorders in the list posted earlier.

I just hope you are financially capable of getting this specialized opinion, or take it from someone who hasn't been able to, because of being on a limited and fixed income which barely pays the bills as it is.

Were are here to help if we can, but the more information you can give us, the better we can understand your situation and can either answer your questions or direct you to where you can get the information that will, or at least help you more, so that you can also help yourself and your claim.

Rockhound Rider :o

Actual words from the three panel, I had psychiatric symptoms that were adressed and more emerged during service while I was in correctional custody. There is a list attached and no I did not have schizoaffective disorder preservice. Preservice I was dx paranoid schizophrenic reaction at 15. Also it does state that I was aggravated beyond the natural course of the disease.

[ysraal]

Ysraal:

First let me welcome you to Hadit. How old were you when you went into the USMC.

You should not really have that much a problem obtaining service connection. Are you working?

It is very important that you are active in your treatment and compliant in taking your Meds. The same is true for many of us here on Hadit we have to take care of ourselves.

I was 21 years old and 1 week from my 23 birthday when my psychotic episodes began. I am working as a dishwasher pt-time at a restaurant on ssdi tke two antipsychotics and a anticonvulsant as a mood stabilizer. I am in individuaal therapy and special therapy.

[Berta]

Have you formally filed a claim yet?

If so what stage is it at?

HAs VA ever denied a claim on same basis in the past? What reasons did they give for denial?

"Actual words from the three panel, I had psychiatric symptoms that were adressed and more emerged during service while I was in correctional custody. There is a list attached and no I did not have schizoaffective disorder preservice. Preservice I was dx paranoid schizophrenic reaction at 15. Also it does state that I was aggravated beyond the natural course of the disease."

What impact did the correctional custody have on the character of your discharge-if any?

Were any aspects of this custody symptomatic of your disability?

Does your entrance exam take note of the past reactive episode?

Who were the mental health professionals?- I mean was this a MEP or PEB panel?

Did you receive a medical discharge?

[Berta]

PS -the wording "emerged" in the statement from this panel is critical as it appears to overcome a pre- existing condition,suggesting you were fit for duty and induction.

I just cant determine the source of this 'panel' here.

[ysraal]

Have you formally filed a claim yet?

If so what stage is it at?

HAs VA ever denied a claim on same basis in the past? What reasons did they give for denial?

"Actual words from the three panel, I had psychiatric symptoms that were adressed and more emerged during service while I was in correctional custody. There is a list attached and no I did not have schizoaffective disorder preservice. Preservice I was dx paranoid schizophrenic reaction at 15. Also it does state that I was aggravated beyond the natural course of the disease."

What impact did the correctional custody have on the character of your discharge-if any?

Were any aspects of this custody symptomatic of your disability?Discharge, Honorable and yes they immediately started dicharge proceedings to give me a bad-conduct discharge and I went up the chain of command and recieved an honorable discharge. This was a panel of three psy Ds all C&P specialists.

Does your entrance exam take note of the past reactive episode?

Who were the mental health professionals?- I mean was this a MEP or PEB panel?

Did you receive a medical discharge?

[ysraal]

This was done as BVA remand

[Berta]

OH- BVA Remand- can you give us the Citation number and docket number?

or hyperlink to the BVA decision?

Or can you scan it and attach here?

BVA decisions contain no names or personal info and they are public record.

The remand will help us a lot here.

[john999]

How did the USMC find out about your dx at 15 with schizophrenia?

[ysraal]

How did the USMC find out about your dx at 15 with schizophrenia?

I was charged with larceny wrongly and sent to correctional custody. There i had several hysterical violent episodes, had to be restrained. I was sent for a psychosis rule-out and it was defered after an inquiry with hometown police .

[john999]

Did you file a claim with the VA within one year of discharge. I think the USMC should have given you a medical discharge, but by giving you the honorable instead of bad conduct they got out of giving you a medical pension. You need to file a VA claim. I think I would also ask for a Review Board to reconsider the nature of my discharge. Time is of the essense with these things. Your VA claim is most important right now, but both things should be done pronto.

[ysraal]

Did you file a claim with the VA within one year of discharge. I think the USMC should have given you a medical discharge, but by giving you the honorable instead of bad conduct they got out of giving you a medical pension. You need to file a VA claim. I think I would also ask for a Review Board to reconsider the nature of my discharge. Time is of the essense with these things. Your VA claim is most important right now, but both things should be done pronto.

I understand about the pension now, and I have been going through my VA claim for 6 years now. Thank you.

[john999]

So you filed your claim and were denied? Has your claim been on appeal for 6 years? I ask these questions because if you file within one year of discharge when you win your effective date will be the day after discharge. Also, when you file within one year of discharge you are in the presumptive period where the VA considers your illness to be due more than likely to your service. If you wait ten years to file then the VA will claim that other factors between discharge and filing date could be the reason your illness became worse or chronic. You need to keep posting on this subject. I was granted 10% for residual schizophrenia in 1973. I had filed a claim in 1972 within one year of discharge. I was grossly low balled, but at the time I was too ill to really fight back in a smart way. There was no Hadit, and my private doctor feared that more contact with the VA would end with me being institutionalized. Above all, stick with your therapy and medications. You can show that your condition is chronic and that you have been in treatment since you got out it makes all the difference. I started treatment with a private doctor as soon as I got out even though I was broke. Things were different then and the docs were not so money mad. Stick around here and keep posting until you win your claim. You might even consider gettting a lawyer to help you. They get part of your retro so you don't have to front money. Are you rated service connected at all? I think you can win this claim, but you must be persistent. You have the evidence in your service records of a service connection.