ptsd And, The V A People Wonder Why We Veterans.....

[LarryJ]

Could it be things like THIS!

THREE opinions positive for PTSD.

Receiving TREATMENT FROM A VA PSYCHIATRIST AND TWO VA PSYCHOLOGISTS for PTSD!

Fourteen Months in I Corps.

USMC

....and he gets this!

[carlie]

Larry,

It's your topic - so don't bow out.

Have you been able to read the 2003 denial this vet got.

What were the Reasons and Bases they denied at that time.

If this vet has continually prosecuted this claim by filing timely responses

he is eventually going to get one heck of a retro check.

You know that when the crap stops sliding down hill - he WILL win this claim.

Is he currently SC'd for anything ?

[Quibley]

Since the decision clearly states that the veteran's examiner attests to the fact that the veteran shows symptoms of major depression and panic disorder, have you thought about having the veteran file for major depressive disorder and panic disorder while appealing the PTSD?

One more thing, in accordance with the examiner's finding of panic disorder, the rater and/or the examiner completely contradicted themselves when they stated the veteran's symptoms are better explained by a mood disorder than an anxiety disorder. Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder.

Quib

Edited July 29, 2010 by Quibley

[Pete53]

As long as this thread does not get personal I am sure we are all adult enough to partake in a lively discussion. James as well as others who post here to help Veterans are aware that many on this Board have hard feelings toward the VA.

If the VARO that Larry is referring to is in Waco they are the same VARO that has been caught scamming Veterans with fiduciary arrangements not in the best interest of the Vets. They also have been arbitrary even with evidence piled high in Vets favor.

Hopefully this gets straightened out quickly for the sake of the Veteran and harmony on this Board.

Last of all I appreciate the trouble and time Larry has done to make us aware that we should never relax till the money is in the bank.

God Bless Us All

[JamesBreckenridge]

Oof. Yes, I've been at work today, and it was a very long day today.

I will take a look at those scans, and tell you what I think, and try to address some of the points brought up by several of you... with some trepidation. I can explain how this works, but I can't get into an argument. The last thing I want to do is add to the frustration, and I *will* say nothing at all rather than say something that most of you will misunderstand and get upset about.

Give me a bit and I'll get back to you on this. Larry, I'm going to print out the PTSD worksheets that the VA examiner goes by and scan them for you, but it'll be tomorrow. If I had known this was going to blow up like this, I'd have printed them out today and scanned them.

Edited to add:

Hmm. I'd like to see the actual C&P examination. It looks like you got one page of it, but none of the rest. I'm going to hold off on commenting on the other pages that you've already scanned until I've had a chance to read the C&P examination.

Edited July 30, 2010 by JamesBreckenridge

[LarryJ]

Oof. Yes, I've been at work today, and it was a very long day today.

I will take a look at those scans, and tell you what I think, and try to address some of the points brought up by several of you... with some trepidation. I can explain how this works, but I can't get into an argument. The last thing I want to do is add to the frustration, and I *will* say nothing at all rather than say something that most of you will misunderstand and get upset about.

Give me a bit and I'll get back to you on this. Larry, I'm going to print out the PTSD worksheets that the VA examiner goes by and scan them for you, but it'll be tomorrow. If I had known this was going to blow up like this, I'd have printed them out today and scanned them.

That's good, James, I would appreciate that. I do know that the PTSD field is changing and I've a problem keeping up and can use ALL the help I can get.

I've always tried not to paint the VA with too wide a brush. And, I appreciate folks like you that will get on here and give and take, give and take is good.

But, in this particular instance, with this particular veteran..........when I saw his "denial", frankly, along with it, I saw RED.

You brought up the necessity of a proper DSM IV diagnosis.......which he has, not one of, but three of, and then, for the VA to pitch those diagnosis in the ditch, for ONE that decides that he doesn't REALLY have PTSD, but, instead, some unspecified "mood" disorder........come on now....that is what REALLY upsets me, as it should any fair-minded person.

After all, this veteran has the CAR, has more than 12 months "feet on the ground" in I Corps as a Marine during '68 and '69, did "tunnel-rat" duty, etc.

That should be enough.

It was.

Should we just open a NEW claim under the now current PTSD situation?

He did have a prior PTSD claim that was denied, going back to 2003, that was not properly NOD'd (part of the reason being his PTSD/Depression), part being the fine fellows at the DAV. It's a shame for him to lose that EED (which is another reason for my personal pissed-offed-ness at this whole messhugha mess).

[JamesBreckenridge]

Should we just open a NEW claim under the now current PTSD situation?

He did have a prior PTSD claim that was denied, going back to 2003, that was not properly NOD'd (part of the reason being his PTSD/Depression), part being the fine fellows at the DAV. It's a shame for him to lose that EED (which is another reason for my personal pissed-offed-ness at this whole messhugha mess).

No, opening a new claim isn't going to help. The change in PTSD makes it easier to concede stressors, which is not your veteran's problem. He's got a conceded stressor.

It appears that this veteran's claim was denied because his diagnoses were either informal diagnoses by doctors who were treating his symptoms, and a formal DSM-IV diagnosis, but by a nurse rather than a board certified psychologist. By the first and only page of the C&P exam available, I know that the examiner was a board certified psychologist.

Get the exam scanned and I can tell you more.

Edited July 30, 2010 by JamesBreckenridge