Was I 0% Service Connected In 1986 For Adjustment Disorder?

[blanco63]

I was discharged in 1983 for personality disorder and opened a claim that year for psychiatric disorder. The 2/28/86 decision states the following - Decision: Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric condition is not warranted. Reason For Decision: Veteran is diagnosed with personality and subsequent adjustment disorder is not a disability which is compensable under the law as outlined by the 1945 Schedule for Rating Disabilities. In the beginning of this decision, it said number of sc disab - 0. I reopened claim on 5/23/00. Their 6/30/00 letter states - The claim for sc for a mental condition was rated 2/28/86. SMR's showed a personality disorder. VA exam in 5/85 showed an adjustment disorder. Neither of these are disabilities for which compensation is payable. So, was i rated 0% in 1986? If not, why wasn't i rated 0% or more in 2000 because adjustment dis had become payable in november 1996? What could i do now? Ask the VA, where's my rating or how about an increase more than my 0%? Cue time? No, it wasn't an error. Would it be called unintentional forgetfulness?

[sharon]

http://www4.va.gov/vetapp07/files2/0716959.txt

This will probably help with what you are trying to do.

[broncovet]

I agree with Larry. You may find a "Veteran Friendly" Psych doc at your VA..of course, you may also need to get a private IME/IMO to establish your Nexus.

[blanco63]

I have both a private doctor and a psychiatrist who will write me IMO's for the nexus at no cost. i figure that 2 are better than 1. My doctor wrote four that got me 0, 10, 30, and 50%(I got last year) for migraines, another for ssdi, and did a form for ssdi. My psych wrote an IMO for ssdi and also did a form. My doctor's first job was with a VAMC for 5 years before she opened her own practice. I am very blessed to have these two veteran friendly physicians. I have three axis 1 disorders - bipolar, cognitive, and social anxiety. I will apply for all three and i know that my two physicians will write me good IMO's relating and connecting them to my service personality disorder and adjustment disorder. I should have done this a long time ago but I was working and concentrating on my claim for migraines. Thank you for all your input.

[broncovet]

Blanco

I will be so bold as to make a prediction, based on your posts:

Because you have a good rapport with your doctors, if they write you a good IMO (IME is better), I predict you will win your claim if you persist in the necessary appeals.

You obviously have a current/chronic disability with a GAF of 40-45, that and a good nexis letter by your docs will win for you, tho not necessarily on the first get go at the RO level. It could well take a DRO, BVA or maybe even CAVC decision, but eventually you should win. It is pretty hard for the VA to keep beating a good nexus...tho they sure tried with me for 7 years.

[cowgirl]

I've reread all the posts here, I see lots of experience and awesome clear thinking. Don't know where I'd be without Hadit, well maybe, but glad I'm here.

I have another thought after I read what your wrote about "getting good IMO's relating and connecting to service 'personality' and 'adjustment disorder'."

The way I see it you are Not-Service connected/Not subject to compensation ' for personality disorder'. However, true you were discharged for that.

I had a VA mental health clinician Dr. refute a 'wrong' diagnosis with a 'correct' diagnosis, using DSM justification. In their statement there was no mention of Service or Non-Service connected rating, only the breifest of diagnosis history and the corrected diagnosis supported by professionally supported opinion.

I think it helped the statement said nothing about the VA rating or compensation but kept clearly to the diagnosis, in-service medical treatment and current, ongoing medical care for same.

Just thought I'd share that.

Best to ya,

Cowgirl

I have both a private doctor and a psychiatrist who will write me IMO's for the nexus at no cost. i figure that 2 are better than 1. My doctor wrote four that got me 0, 10, 30, and 50%(I got last year) for migraines, another for ssdi, and did a form for ssdi. My psych wrote an IMO for ssdi and also did a form. My doctor's first job was with a VAMC for 5 years before she opened her own practice. I am very blessed to have these two veteran friendly physicians. I have three axis 1 disorders - bipolar, cognitive, and social anxiety. I will apply for all three and i know that my two physicians will write me good IMO's relating and connecting them to my service personality disorder and adjustment disorder. I should have done this a long time ago but I was working and concentrating on my claim for migraines. Thank you for all your input.

[Berta]

I have vet friend and we were able to prove he showed first manifestations of his bi polar in service during the 1960s.

He had HD with a Captains Mass noted in his mil records.

We proved (and he had a supporting opinion from his VA shrink)that the behavior that got him into the Captain's Mass problem and put into the ship's brig for a few days was an obvious manifestation for Manic Bi polar which he was susequently diagnosed for and treated 2 years after service.

Bi Polar disabilities and symptoms were not recognized or diagnosed well at all by the military, the VA or even by private health care entities in the 1960s and 70s.

Do your SMRs or even your personnel records show anything that could have been bi polar manifestations and nothing else?