ptsd Filling Out The Tdiu Form

[hedgey]

Okay, so I have the form printed out and I'm sitting here staring at it. Actually, I printed it out last week, and it's been here on my desk ever since. The bitter irony is that (as I've said before, probably) the symptoms that keep me from working also interfere with my getting forms done and applications submitted.

So what do I put for the day I became too disabled to work? Would that be the same day I stopped working way back when? I submitted a resignation stating that I was quitting for family reasons, but there was no way in heck I was going to tell those people the truth.

And how do I figure the amount of time lost from my illness? I stopped 12 years ago, I don't remember how much time I took off except that I took more leave than I earned and was on LWOP status frequently. I don't have any records that would prove that it was the illness that stopped me from working back then. My supervisor took pity on me and gave me good appraisals (that didn't help the attitude of my co-workers, but I don't blame them).

And how, exactly, do they expect me to put all my doctor's appointments into those little spaces?

My shrinks are all VA, so can I just put VA as the doctors, or do they want all the different names of all the different doctors?

Thanks for any help.

Edited to add: Oh, and I don't know for sure if the VA has service-connected my PTSD at all or not. Do I list that as my SC reason for not working? It's definitely the main cause of my not working... though my physical problems don't help...

Edited August 2, 2010 by hedgey

[hedgey]

Oh, um, also, should I list all my problems, or just the PTSD?

[Tbird]

Hedgey -

I am very much like you, I have a form sitting here for the VA I've filled some of it out and then it just sits there starting at me. Some practical tips, ok on the space that's to small to write you put see attachment #1 then you type or write on a blank page at the top and bottom of each page you put Attachment #1 and then what it is Doctors Seen or whatever. Then still on the top and bottom of each page you put your full name and your claim number or social security number. I've done this over the years and it has worked pretty good for me.

If you have been seen by the VAMC the whole time you can request a print out of all your appointments over a certain period of time. Also don't forget on My Healthvet you past prescriptions are there and it goes back pretty far, well at least the last time I checked on mine it was there.

Ok, here is another tip, it got so bad for me at one point, that I just filled in one box of the form everyday, day one name, day two ssn, day 3 military branch and so on. I don't know if this will help you, but it might. If I didn't remember the exact information I would just put don't remember.

Plus Social Security has a record of your work history from when you paying taxes, so you could call and ask them for a copy, I don't know if you could get it, just trying to resourceful.

Also sometimes it is easier to just do a mind dump, read through the form, then open a blank document on your computer name brain dump and save it, then just start dumping everything that pops into your head, no order, just put it down. When you are done, save it. Next day read through the form again and open the document and begin dumping more, Repeat as often as necessary, after doing that it may be easier to fill out the form.

I hope some of these suggestions are helpful.

Sharon, thanks. One step at a time, good advice.

I'm trying to breathe and stay calm. Sometimes it works!

Do I use my last day of work as my date I became disabled? My PTSD definitely was a factor in my leaving a good-paying job with great benefits, although I didn't put anything about it into my resignation letter. I was doing all I could to suppress my problems and just not managing very well...

[john999]

Hedgey

Did you work for the federal government? If a year has not passed you could still file for disability retirement if you did. You mentioned LWOP that is why I suspect you worked for the feds.

[hedgey]

Tbird, thanks for all the great advice. I think I'll use just about all of the suggestions. I was able to find my Social Security Statement and that was great because it showed my highest gross earning, plus it shows when my income started to drop off because I went to part-time for a while.

John, yep, I was a fed. I didn't keep my pay vouchers or I could have shown the VA all the pay periods with LWOP. My supervisor was so kind to me, she knew I had issues and she felt so sorry for me that she gave me good ratings all the time, and let me blame a lot of my absences on family issues, etc. It was a lifesaver then but now I wish I had some counseling statements to show the VA. Maybe they'll see that there's something odd about a person quitting a good-paying job to be a stay-at-home mom when the only child is nearly 12 years old?

I can't believe I keep getting so tied up in knots about such a relatively simple dang form! I mean I get palpitations every time I sit at my desk and the paperwork is right there. I'm procrastinating right now, and I've pushed the papers aside to use the keyboard, but I feel my heart start to pound when I think about sitting back and getting it done. My lips get cold and I can't breathe so I jump up and leave the room. Nuts, just plain nuts!!

At least I know that the VA has started a TDIU claim for me, so I know it's already in the works. I just need to get this puppy done and in their hands, with the other documents, and the VCAA thing.

pant!! puff!! I can do this!!

[deviant]

I did ask my therapist to enter that information. He seemed to be okay with it, but I won't know until later. He's fairly new to the VA system as a provider, though he's a vet and seems to understand PTSD. One good thing: I went to a private doctor and got an IMO for my feet. He was so struck by my anxiety level that he included a statement that I am unable to work due to pain and anxiety. He's not a psychiatrist, he's an occupational medicine specialist. Even so, I think his statement will help me - it can't hurt.

Now I'm stuck with the questions on the form. How do I fit all the dates I went to the VA doctors in the tiny space on the form? My supposed VSO isn't much help in anything, so I have no one locally to ask.

What date do I say I became disabled? The last day that I worked?

I've been seeing VA doctors and therapists for the past two years. Do I need to put down all the appointments, or can I put from 08/09 - present?

I keep putting the form away and don't want to look at it, but I know I have to get it done...

Should I send a copy of that doctor's report with this form? Should I send a copy of the letter from Voc Rehab that says I can't handle school right now?

Damn, it's only one little form, and I feel completely overwhelmed!!

Tdiu if granted will only go back to the date that the doctor at the VA said that you were unable to work, they just worked mine to the beginning of my claim and ignored the fact I hadnt been able to work in two years...So basically YOU NEED TO FILL OUT THAT FORM! Trying to prove otherwise is like pulling teeth with pliers. So in the end run they only paid me back to the date I filed the claim and was getting mental health treatment for the fact that I had figured out on my own that I couldnt work if I had just used common sense and admitted that things werent going to work out and filed it at the onset then my life would have been much easier... Sad to say but when all hope is lost sometimes you need to recognize that and change the plan. I lost 2 years of what would have been a fairly decent life by not filling out my paperwork for fear of rejection. But 2 years out of work and 1 year of constant treatment and waiting on my claim and I got approved