ptsd Progress Notes

[ranger11bv]

I got a copy of my mental health progress reports from June 4th. Here are the results:

Provisional Diagnosis:

Axis 1; BiPolar D/O, depressed w/out psychosis PTSD, chronic

Axis 2: Deferred

Axis 3; knee pain, past hernia repair

Axis 4; social support, financial issues, possible eviction Monday

Axis 5; 45

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Whats this all mean???

[ranger11bv]

Within about 2 weeks.

[USMC_HVEQ]

ranger,

It definitly means you can file a claim for MH if you have not already. The VA does not care more if you have bi-polar vs PTSD. They only rate 1 mental health condition. They will rate whatever condition that is the worst. the word "chronic" means it has lasted more than 6 months. Your GAF score is jsut a glimpse, like a snapshot of how you are on that particular day. If you were to be rated at say 70%, your gaf would not be the only thing they are using. You still really need to look at the mental health criteria for each level of compensation.

If you happen to get over the minimum threshold for TDIU and you can not work, then you can put a calim in for TDIU as well. TDIU will trigger all new C&P exams for all your SC'd problems, just an FYI.

Also have you filed previously for any mental health conditions prior? I see the docs dx and such, but if you havent then that is where you must start. You can alwasy use VONAPP, to at least get the ball rolling, so you dont lose this month for EED. Now your progress notes must be gathered. You must also write a letter, talking about how your mental health condition effects you. It isnt mandatory but might help your claim. I would discuss how your MH effects your life (family, friends, work, etc.). Once your claim is in, eventually you will get a C&P exam, which carries more weight generally. In that exam, they are just trying to confirm or deny the severity of any dx a previous doc may have made.

Sorry for the lengthy response. Hope i helped.

[ranger11bv]

You still really need to look at the mental health criteria for each level of compensation.

I think this is it:

• 38 C.F.R. § 4.130, DC 9411
  General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders:
  
  Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought process or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation occupation, or own name …………………..100%
  
  Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships ...................................... 70%
  
  Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining Effective work and social relationships ………………..50%
  
  Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events) ............................ 30%
  
  Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by continuous medication .................. 10%
  
  A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication .............................. 0%
  
  To find the current VA disability compensation monthly payment rates, please go to the VA website at www.va.gov. From the homepage, click on “Compensation”, then on “Rate Tables”. Additional monthly payments may be available based on the beneficiary’s number of dependents.