ptsd Help

[Deltawife]

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; "><span style="font-size: 17px; ">Once again, this is something NO one has told my husband. He has applied for an increase in his PTSD and had 2 appts. with C &amp; P. He's currently rated for 50% PTSD and 10 % hearing. (This was awarded to him through a Veterans Rep Office in Tulare Ca. in 2002.)</span><br><span style="font-size: 13px; ">He has kept every appointment with the VA in Fresno and under the care of a primary care physician and psychologist since then.</span><br><span style="font-size: 13px; "><br></span><br><span style="font-size: 13px; ">In May of 2010 we heard gunshots outside our home. Gary ran toward the gunfire. He saw our neighbor fall from being shot. He turned him on his side so he would not choke on his blood and held pressure on his wounds. When the police arrived, they told him it was not considered a crime scene and to leave the victim alone. Erik, the victim, died.</span><br><span style="font-size: 13px; ">As you can well imagine, the smell of blood and the whole incident has mentally disabled my husband. He is unable to work. We are filing for TDIU next week on Feb 3rd at his next appointment.</span><br><span style="font-size: 13px; "><br></span><br><span style="font-size: 13px; ">Gary was NEVER evaluated for his wounds. He was a gunner in Vietnam and shot down 3 times. (Has 3 purple hearts, silver star and bronze star for valor.) He also has shrapnel in his arm and it does give him pain.</span><br><span style="font-size: 13px; ">Is this something he should apply for? Also, I know my next question should be in a different forum....BUT, does it sound like he should apply for CUE as well?</span><br><span style="font-size: 13px; ">If you have any questions please ask....We are Desperate for help for him.&nbsp;</span><br><span style="font-size: 13px; ">Also, please forgive me if I'm not asking correctly about all of this...I am just trying to help my husband and am new to all this VA information.</span><br><span style="font-size: 13px; ">Thank you!</span></span>

[Berta]

"does it sound like he should apply for CUE as well?"

One does not "apply for" CUE.

CUE claims are explained in detail in our CUE forum here.

If his medical evidence warrants the TDIU the VA will award it.

Does he receive SSDI for PTSD?

[jbasser]

Even though this was a terrible or even horiffic incident, It is not related to your Husbands VA claim in the sense. You can argue for an increase as this incident would have aggravated the PTSD your husband faces.

A Cue is a collattarel attack on a final decision issued by the va. To successfully pursue a cue, one must show the VA that they committed legal error when they made a decision and the error must have cost the vet retro. There is a definition of cue on Hadit.

You really need to step back, gather yourself and look at it from another angle. Getting all worked up fogs up your focus and gets you off target.

Hang in there.

J

[Deltawife]

"does it sound like he should apply for CUE as well?"

One does not "apply for" CUE.

CUE claims are explained in detail in our CUE forum here.

If his medical evidence warrants the TDIU the VA will award it.

Does he receive SSDI for PTSD?

He just signed up for his Social Security Retirement......Not Social Security Disability. He turned 62 in December.

Thank you so much for answering and helping!

Much appreciation!

[Deltawife]

Even though this was a terrible or even horiffic incident, It is not related to your Husbands VA claim in the sense. You can argue for an increase as this incident would have aggravated the PTSD your husband faces.

A Cue is a collattarel attack on a final decision issued by the va. To successfully pursue a cue, one must show the VA that they committed legal error when they made a decision and the error must have cost the vet retro. There is a definition of cue on Hadit.

You really need to step back, gather yourself and look at it from another angle. Getting all worked up fogs up your focus and gets you off target.

Hang in there.

J

Thank you so much, you are right. I do need to step back. Since, hubby had no idea of how the VA worked, and he has a new rep (which we will meet with on Feb. 3rd) I just need all the info I can get. I think he fell through a crack from the beginning of this claim with the advocates office after 9/11. We are armed and ready to go to the VA. He has a nerve conduction test, (for GSW in left arm) and an appointment with his primary care physician to get a "current chronic medical condition" letter, (for his TDIU) and then we are meeting his new rep. He is and has been on medications for his PTSD and has kept every appointment with his psychiatrist and Dr.'s.

The shooting is well documented at the VA. When Gary had one of his C & P appointments for his PTSD increase, it was with an outside contractor that the VA sent him to. He really broke down. (IMHO it is ridiculous that the Dr.'s can only ask questions that are on a piece of paper, but it is what is it) I had never seen him break down like that. Later I asked him why he hasn't spoke to his regular psychiatrist about these issues and he said because "that stuff" was never brought up. (I am referring to the gory details in Vietnam)

He also was shot in the face and has plastic in his nose which causes severe and chronic sinusitis. They have been giving him meds, but he's never seen an ENT Dr. This list just goes on and on. I really am more organized than I appear to be in these posts. LOL

Thank you ALL for your help! God Bless all of you and thank you for serving our country.

(and putting up with my unorganized posting)

Sincerely,

Deltawife,

Patti

[stillhere]

He just signed up for his Social Security Retirement......Not Social Security Disability. He turned 62 in December.

Thank you so much for answering and helping!

Much appreciation!

He can file for SSDI while he is receiving SSA if he is unable to work!By being disabled.

[Deltawife]

He can file for SSDI while he is receiving SSA if he is unable to work!By being disabled.

He is unable to work. The only Doctors he sees is at the VA. When he gets the "chronic current condition" letter from his Dr. this week. Would that be enough to qualify him for SSDI? I am on SSDI. That is good to know that he can draw his SS retirement and apply for SSDI at the same time.

Isn't SSDI more than SS Retirement?

He has not been able to work since the shooting incident. He is very depressed. NOT suicidal, but he does have nightmares, chronic anxiety, and sleeps all the time, or so it seems.

Thank you so much for the information!