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?

[blanco63]

I have a medical record/consultation sheet from 7/24/83 signed by a NAVY COMMANDER/STAFF PSYCHIATRIST that states diagnosis: Mixed Personality Disorder, schizoid and schizotypal features. On a memo dated 9/22/83 a memo from the Dept of the Navy in DC, it states that I am to be discharged for convenience of the government due to personality disorder. On my DD214, it states Other physical/mental condition - Personality Disorder

[john999]

If you were dicharged due to a personality disorder that is non compensable. Did the VA disagree with that diagnosis and change it to adjustment disorder? If some doctor is saying that your PD was the cause of some other disorder that is a dangerous way of trying for service connection. What the VA doctor should do is say that you were misdiagnosed with a PD when, in fact, you have bipolar disorder that manifested itself in the service. I know that back in the day many emotionally ill service members were kicked out as personality disorders. You have to either refute that or show that you also had a compensable disorder that was either caused or aggravated by your service. Probably most service members with who had PTSD in-service were discharged as PD's or pre-existing mental disorders during the Vietnam era.

[Josephine]

Sounds like my discharge.

This is what it took me me to win my claim.

My review of the records show no documentation which would support the diagnosis of Personality Disorder. There simply are no data which would support that diagnosis under the criteria provided in the Diagnostic and Stastical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association.

No psychological or personality testing was done. There was never any showing of an " enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture... is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations... is stable and of long duration... (and) is not better accounted for as a manifestation or consequence of another mental disorder." DSM IV TR, pages 287 - 288.

The " other mental disorder" which she clearly *DID* and *DOES *have, and for which she has been treated for xxx years, is *xxxxx. *

[LarryJ]

I have a medical record/consultation sheet from 7/24/83 signed by a NAVY COMMANDER/STAFF PSYCHIATRIST that states diagnosis: Mixed Personality Disorder, schizoid and schizotypal features. On a memo dated 9/22/83 a memo from the Dept of the Navy in DC, it states that I am to be discharged for convenience of the government due to personality disorder. On my DD214, it states Other physical/mental condition - Personality Disorder

It appears that the only diagnosis existing is that of "Personality Disorder" (with, albeit, "schizoid features", but, nonetheless, PD).

[LarryJ]

My Wife (better known to some as The Nurse or The Captain (a la USNR)) was talking with an ex-Navy psychiatrist (Vietnam-Era).

He told her some interesting things, one of which was this:

Once Vietnam started really "cooking", along about Tet, he, and a lot of other MD's, seeing what was returning from The Nam, began, quitely, to try and find ways to keep kids from being shipped "over there".

One of the sure-fire ways, and one that really didn't "label" the kid as "really, REALLY mentally "sick", but, that kept them from being sent, was the diagnosis "personality disorder", and that many kids were labeled with "PD", by the MD's, in an effort to keep them OUT OF Vietnam.

It apparently worked. But, I don't think that they (the docs) had any idea what lay in store for the veterans, on down the line.

But, remember, these doctors were nothing but kids themselves, well educated kids, most of whom where not necessarily supportive of "the war".

Just what I thought was an interesting "side note" of the current conversation.

[carlie]

Sounds like my discharge.

This is what it took me me to win my claim.

My review of the records show no documentation which would support the diagnosis of Personality Disorder. There simply are no data which would support that diagnosis under the criteria provided in the Diagnostic and Stastical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association.

No psychological or personality testing was done. There was never any showing of an " enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture... is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations... is stable and of long duration... (and) is not better accounted for as a manifestation or consequence of another mental disorder." DSM IV TR, pages 287 - 288.

The " other mental disorder" which she clearly *DID* and *DOES *have, and for which she has been treated for xxx years, is *xxxxx. *

Josephine,

Thank you for posting this fine example.

It will more likely than not, help a veteran down the road.

carlie