ptsd Im Confused And Worried

[chemdogg]

I will try and make this is as short as I can. I need help because I am confused. I was seen by a VA doctor about 4 years ago he came to the conclusion I had ptsd, and a psychiatrist I ahve been seeing for over 2 years regularly has stated PTSD, and I wont get better. So I was under impression I had PTSD. My wife goes to meetings with veterans group, someone at meeting told her i should request an evalualtion sooner, so I could get permanent status so she could get ChampVA.

Anyway, I got a note from my psychaitrist stating I will never get better, and I took it to the VSO, he said I have not been diagnosed with PTSD I have social Phobia with severe anxiety and depression. He also said, that they pretty much interchange alot of illnesses to fall under PTSD, and I could actually lose my 100% temp. He said I could get permanent but might be less than a 100%, I wish I knew that before I applied for PTSD. Did I make a mistake by applying for PTSD? I am asking because there is another veteran telling me that since i have social phobia and I am unemployable, and cant be around people at all pretty much, that falls under something called UI or IU, I cant remember. Please someone help me,i think i messed up. Can someone shed some light on my situation in what might happen?

[Berta]

Have you applied for SSDI benefits?

I didnt know reps had crystal balls-the VA cannot propose to reduce your comp unless they have probative evidence of improvement or evidence of fraud.

BUT I might be misunderstanding his point- with 100% SC now why ask for PTSD comp-because they cannot pay 100 for 2 MH issues at the same time.

Maybe that is what he meant. ????

You do want to request the Permanent and Total status.

"Anyway, I got a note from my psychaitrist stating I will never get better, and I took it to the VSO, he said I have not been diagnosed with PTSD I have social Phobia with severe anxiety and depression"

What does your 100% award letter say?

Often an award letter will grant Chapter 35 DEA educational benefits and this is based on a P & T finding.

They dont like to spell out permanent and total sometimes in those awards.

Does your award say DEA or CHapter 35 was awarded to your dependents?

What is the diagnosis the award letter used?

Is it the same diagnosis the VA psychiatrist used in the letter as to not getting better?

[chemdogg]

My psychiatrist has stated many times, I have ptsd, and I am not getting better and will not get better. I applied for Ptsd because the VSO said we could do it, he said they pretty much group all of the MH conditions together, and I had a note from va psychiatrist i have seen for over 2 years. I only applied for permanent status s my wife could get ChampVA. I wasnt trying to get 100% on 2 MH conditions. I found a VSO from a different town that comes to a college here, He seems pretty knowledgeable. I hope to chat with him on Monday. Is it possible for me to stop pursuing the Ptsd and just stay with the social phobia with sevee anxiety and depression? Like just drop the the Ptsd or is it to late? its been like 3 weeks since I submitted paperwork.

Thank you for your help.

[Berta]

"I wasnt trying to get 100% on 2 MH conditions." I didnt feel you were-I am very sorry if I came across that way-

I feel you could drop the PTSD claim and ask them for a Permanent and Total Status and send them any evidence you have to support the P & T status.

I hope others here chime in as well. And it might be good idea to talk to the other VSO.

I regret that any vet has to worry about what they already have in comp-if they ask for anything else.

But we often only get what we ask for and I feel you have very valid evidence for the P & T claim.

"My psychiatrist has stated many times, I have ptsd, and I am not getting better and will not get better."

PTSD is in fact an anxiety disorder. Is this statement documented in you records or would the psychiatrist be willing to make sure that it is????

Or even give you a separate statement to file with the P & T request?

[chemdogg]

I am sorry Berta , I was just stating I wasnt trying to get 100% on 2 diff MH conditions. My psychiatrist gave me the P&T written statement for Ptsd because when i was evaluated in a Va hospital by a psychiatrist his diagnosis was Ptsd, and my psychaitrist for last 2 years agreed. However I have no idea how the VA came to the conclusion of social phobia with severe anxiety and severe depression. I am greatful for all the help the va has given me. The new VSO I hope to meet with on monday sound svery knowledgeable, I will bring wife with me since her memory is so much better than mine.

One more Question if I may, How do i get a VA psychiatrist to write a statement saying that my social phobia and severe anxiety and depression is permanent when he says I have Ptsd? I dont have any idea how the VA system or the rules and regulations work. My memory is so bad, and when i read things i forget them just as quick. My wife gets mad at me sometimes, I have so many things written down because of bad memory.

Thank You so much for all the Help.

[pacmanx1]

If you do not have a complete copy of your award letter then you need to request it. Check with your VSO to see if he has a copy of it and review it with him. Did you file a claim for PTSD or depression or anxiety. The rating letter will tell you what you are service connected for.

[Berta]

I would just ask him to write the letter.

Unless it is documented already in your VA medical records.

Do you have a copy of them?

I had problems with the VA when I reopened my husband's claims after he died and was so disgusted with them I went right over to his former psychiatrists office at Bath NY VA after one of their denials.

Luckily he had a few minutes to see me and I relayed that although SSA had awarded Rod for PTSD (I had the SSA award letter)the VA failed to consider this evidence at all and said they had no evidence that his PTSD (at 30%) had gotten worse and they never referred to any of the doctor's treatment records in the decision.

He quickly gave me copies of results of 6 MH tests he gave Rod and said he would write a letter to the VA right away.He said Rod's PTSD was catastrophic and he certainly was unemployable due to it.

About 3-4 weeks later the VA made posthumous 100% P & T award for PTSD using his letter as medical evidence.

It pays to ask for what we need.