ptsd My Stressor Letter

[ranger11bv]

MY PTSD STRESSOR STATEMENT*

* *

This situation relates to a time when I was in basic training at

Ft Benning Ga. My basic training unit was Company C42, USAIC, Fort Benning,

GA. Date there was from Oct. 18, 1985 to Jan. 24, 1986. My Drill Sgt was

Staff Sgt. Talamoa

During this time II was subjected to higher then normal levels of

intimidation, bulling, and physical trauma. Several times I was punched in

the face or chest over the course of a few weeks. I reported these incidents

to my Drill Sergeant, but was told to take it like a man and continue on

with my training.

One night on Fire Guard duty in Harmony Church, I was doing my

rounds when I was jumped by four (4) trainees. Three (3) held me down while

one individual continued to assault me, by hitting me repeatedly. I woke up

later with a trainee over me and asking me if I was alright OK. As I tried

to get up, I felt nauseated and vomited. There was pain in my stomach, my

right eye was closed up, and my nose was bleeding. The Trainee helped me up

and got Drill Sgt Talamoa (sp). Drill Sergeant gets me and others about an

hour later and asked us about what happened. When he seen my face, he asked

me about it. I said it was dark and they got me from behind. Drill Sergeant

then told me NOT to go to the aid station. I just nodded and went to the

latrine to clean up.

I was bed-ridden for 3 days. During which time I was

continuously coughing up blood and vomiting. I asked the Drill Sergeant

Talamoa if I could go to the aid station, but again he said no, I'll get

better. Eventually I did get better- physically. But I did have a sense of

helplessness I never felt before. I started having trouble concentrating on

simple tasks at hand. I had recurring nightmares of the event. I started

sleeping less and less until it was just 2-3 hours per night. This still

continues to this day. I wake up w/ my heart pounding 3-5 times per night.

Before the event, I was very engaging and trusting of others. Now, I only

have a handful of people I can call friends. I will do anything to avoid

getting into a physical altercation all together. To this day I'm nervous

when in a crowd. I try to be by myself seeing that being alone, I'm

guaranteed that I will be OK. This also helps me with my over-hyper

vigilance. I can concentrate on the things that are important. But being

alone just puts this in a controllable albeit uncertain level. My outburst

of anger constantly reminds me that I must watch myself. These outburst have

led to either getting fired from jobs, or makes it near impossible to have a

serious relationship. While in, I had 4 AR-15. On the outside, I have had over

65 jobs up to 2007. I have not worked since.

[ranger11bv]

Question: I just found out what TBI is. From the symptoms I described in my letter, should I should try to get it SC?

[carlie]

No, there is not. But as the following states, I can and WILL use other then the normal process to establish my claim;

ranger11bv,

This might be helpful in your research on PTSD secondary to Personal Assault.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2009/julqtr/38cfr3.304.htm

(f) Posttraumatic stress disorder.

Service connection for post traumatic stress disorder requires

medical evidence diagnosing the condition in accordance with Sec. 4.125(a) of this chapter;

a link, established by medical evidence, between current symptoms and an in-service stressor;

and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The following provisions apply to claims for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder

diagnosed during service

or based on specified in-service stressors:

(1)

If the evidence establishes a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder during service

and the claimed stressor is related to that service,

in the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary,

and provided that the claimed stressor is consistent with the circumstances,

conditions, or hardships of the veteran's service,

the veteran's lay testimony alone may establish the occurrence of the

claimed in-service stressor.

(4)

If a posttraumatic stress disorder claim is based on in-service

personal assault, evidence from sources other than the veteran's service

records may corroborate the veteran's account of the stressor incident.

Examples of such evidence include, but are not limited to:

records from law enforcement authorities,

rape crisis centers, mental health counseling centers, hospitals,

or physicians; pregnancy tests or tests for sexually transmitted diseases;

and statements from family members,

roommates, fellow service members, or clergy.

Evidence of behavior changes following the claimed assault is one type of relevant evidence

that may be found in these sources.

Examples of behavior changes that may constitute credible evidence of the stressor include,

but are not limited to:

a request for a transfer to another military duty assignment;

deterioration in work performance; substance abuse; episodes of

depression, panic attacks, or anxiety without an identifiable cause; or

unexplained economic or social behavior changes.

VA will not deny a post traumatic stress disorder claim that is based on in-service personal

assault without first advising the claimant that evidence from sources

other than the veteran's service records or evidence of behavior changes

may constitute credible supporting evidence of the stressor and allowing

him or her the opportunity to furnish this type of evidence or advise VA

of potential sources of such evidence.

VA may submit any evidence that

it receives to an appropriate medical or mental health professional for

an opinion as to whether it indicates that a personal assault occurred.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), 1154)

[26 FR 1580, Feb. 24, 1961, as amended at 31 FR 4680, Mar. 19, 1966; 39

FR 34530, Sept. 26, 1974; 58 FR 29110, May 19, 1993; 64 FR 32808, June

18, 1999; 67 FR 10332, Mar. 7, 2002; 70 FR 23029, May 4, 2005; 73 FR

64210, Oct. 29, 2008]

[ranger11bv]

Correct Carlie. That is exactly what criteria I have been using all along.

[ranger11bv]

Still waiting on my 201 file...

[ranger11bv]

I have a copy of a psychological examination from March 1999. The Diagnoses of that exam was this:

Axis 1

314.01 ADHD of the combined type

Axis II;

301.22 Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Axis III N/A

Axis IV Multiple significant barriers to employment, including probable longstanding untreated attention problems, longstanding psychopathology, lack of primary supports, very limited income, significant debt, impulsive, and poor interpersonal skills.

Axis V Current GAF: 49 Very serious symptoms.

****************************************************************************

Now, would it help me for either my PTSD or Total unemployment???

[Pete53]

Do you have a copy of your C File. How old were you when they diagnosed the personality disorder?

Did you serve in combat? If you did the VARO will have to accept your word on the ordered bed rest.

Good Luck