ptsd Getting Data For A Ptsd Claim - Requesting Comments

[autumn]

my question is at the bottom after the background info. sorry, i know its long. this uphill VA battle is like a broken record, hope you understand

[a little background]

active duty 1986:

-back injury

-surgery scheduled

-LP#1 shows CSF infection

-surgery canceled

-neuro issues start

-sent to shrink for neuro issues

-LP#2 shows evidence of MS + csf infection

-LP#3 shows evidence of MS & CSF infection going down

-still seeing shrink for neuro issues

-navy neuro writes LP tests/MS were false neg

-hon-med discharged: 20% HNP lower back, 10% major depression secondary to chronic pain

civilian 1987:

-in VA system

-divorce

-end up on the street, less than a year

-drinking increases

-try to quit medicines and drinking, 2 suicide attempts then

-many times asked the VA to redo the Navy LP tests to rule out MS

-still having those weird neuro exacerbations, though no diagnosis for it

-VA lists me as major depressed, depressed with psychotic-tendencies, bi-polar, and a few other weird labels

-i believed the VA diagnosis versus what my body was/is telling me

-i start to think i'm really nuts, and really start to withdraw, little trust in most people

-stopped drinking in 1990

-neuro relapses getting more frequent and lasting longer

-severe hearing loss with ringing in ears. VA gives me hearing aids

-VA still denies MS, won't adequately test for it, puts blame on everything but a neuro disease: i.e., drinking, smoking, mini-strokes maybe, migraines, and all those weird MH labels, etc

-move to different city, and VA reluctantly agrees to MRI for MS: if something shows, they'll do a LP

-MRIs return "dawsons fingers, demyelinating disease in brain", LP positive for MS

-start getting IMO's from board cert'd MS neuros and neurosurgeons. all return assessment with MS

-VA finally agrees to ABC drug, but only after IMO reports, though the VA discounted all IMO's

-attend VA anger management classes due to i can't really handle all this any more

-get scared and angry just going to the VA.

-MRIs a year later show new lesions on spine from IMO requested MRIs. VA discounted those

-filed appeals claim for MS, had C&P for MS, waiting on decision

-SSDI awarded for MS, etc. tried working but i just can't hang (pain & irritability)

-now the VA says there is no evidence of bi-polar or psycho whatever. symptoms likely due to demyelinating disease. i told them that for 23+ years!

-no doubt i'm depressed/anxietied in some way, at the least due to MS symptoms, etc

-no doubt i'm anxietied in some way, at the least due to mis-diagnosis/labeled over the years from VA med care

just looking for a little practical guidance regarding a ptsd claim or maybe a MH claim. the above is all documented in mil med records and va med records and IMO med records.

i looked at tbird's link, "Ptsd - Check This Before Posting Your Question It May Have Already Been Answered!" and i think i meet a stressor or two that is acceptable to VA?

i don't know, i put it out here to seek some answers. i sure can't get any from the VA that i can wrap my head around.

question:

i feel like i have some form of ptsd, though non-combat related. i want to file a claim for ptsd. with the above history, is that what i should file for?

tia,

autumnleaves

[Gardener]

autumn,

Were you diagnosed with depression through the VA? If so, you may possibly claim and get depression sc'd as "secondary" to your other service connected conditions. I really doubt that PTSD would be considered in your case, but not totally sure.

Gardener

[john999]

If you have DX of PTSD and have some reasonable story to tell you don't even have to have your stressors verified anymore.

[autumn]

">Can you scan and post here the reasons and bases they used to discount the IMOS? (cover the personal stuff)"

"no, because neither the neuro or shrink or social worker wrote anything in my records that i had showed them those reports. all i have to show for that is fax receipts that i faxed them to each of them."

I meant what has the VARO stated regarding these IMOs in any SOC they sent to you?

Have you or your vet rep presented them to the VARO in support of your claim as evidence? Or were they sent in to the VARO after you got the SOC?

>>I meant what has the VARO stated regarding these IMOs in any SOC they sent to you?

i don't have any such statements. if SOC means something about SC claim, i may get something back from them when they make a decsion on the NOD that is in process.

>>Have you or your vet rep presented them to the VARO in support of your claim as evidence? Or were they sent in to the VARO after you got the SOC?

all supported evidence was put in c-file this year and last for the NOD via my reps. i had a C&P in june. a few days later i recieved the a new set of MRIs showing new spinal lesions(ms) from my non-VA neuro. i sent those to the C&P doctor. his nurse said they would be helpful.

[autumn]

autumn,

Were you diagnosed with depression through the VA? If so, you may possibly claim and get depression sc'd as "secondary" to your other service connected conditions. I really doubt that PTSD would be considered in your case, but not totally sure.

Gardener

through the navy & va. i'm service connected for depression, "secondary" to chronic pain due to back injury.

ptsd may not be a diagnosis for me. though there is certainly anxiety disorders in my case that are clearly associated with organic demyelinating disease.

my VA psych recently stated my med history shows it, though he did state he may not be able to diagnose it as ptsd. he said the stressors just with having the disease undiagnosed for so many years and neg dealings with the va can cause my particular anxiety disorder

beats me. an accurate diagnosis and treatment for it would suit me versus the yin/yang of the VA dealings

[autumn]

If you have DX of PTSD and have some reasonable story to tell you don't even have to have your stressors verified anymore.

no diagnosis yet, though they are ruling other disorders out and recommending i go to a ptsd program here. though the psych said he would have to check to see if i had to have a diagnosis to get in. he was going to recommend me saying he though i would benefit from it. the anger management program helped to some degree. a little help is better than none.

[Gardener]

autumn,

You can only be compensated for one mental health issue (no matter how many additional diagnosis of mental health issues are added). Since you are already service connected for depression than you are already compensated for a mental health issue. Getting PTSD added to your mental health diagnosis might get you an increase in your already sc'd rating, but not a seperate rating. If you are just trying to get diagnosed for treatment purposes, then that would certainly help you to get the right help you need.

Wishing you well, and good luck

Gardener