ptsd Ptsd Without Medication

[bigoc]

2 questions

1. If I meet the 50% rating criteria, is it reasonable to expect this rating without being place on any type of medication relating to the condition? I tried zoloft a few years ago and did not like the results. I have not been on any medication for this condition for a few years. I have found better results through counseling only without medication.

Can the VA use my TBI finding that I am SC for to explain away PTSD? I am looking at the memory part of the rating criteria and it looks like that is a significant portion of the 50% rating.

My in service combat stressor is pretty solid so I do not have to much concern with that area of the claim. This process happens at the same time (SC finding and rating) so I want to be prepared and able to defend it with a solid initial claim and avoid as much of the back and forth NOD as possible. I have had problems in the past with private doc's writting a finding and having the VA explain away the claim somehow. Then I have to jump through hoops to finally prove my case. I know this is sometime the reality but I would like to be prepared. If anyone has experienced the VA using the TBI finding(memory issues) for VA benefit to deny a PTSD claim please fill me in.

[bigoc]

The stressor which I should not have to much trouble documenting was: The same incident that caused my current TBI rating(lowballed and fixing) is the stressor for my PTSD. I was hit by the blast from a truck bomb that made its way on base and killed a fellow soldier from my unit. My guys and myself from my unit spent the next several days bagging him up in plastic bags, yes it took several days to complete the process. So I just wanted to be clear that my stressor is pretty significant. I think my current condition easily fits 30%. I was just wondering how much not being on meds effects your rating above 10% ?

[Philip Rogers]

bigoc - first, you are correct, the stressor has nothing to do w/meds but you mentioned it your initial post and I was pointing out that stressor has no bearing on how bad your PTSD is, now. Whether you take meds should not have any bearing on your PTSD rating. They do usually state whether or not the claimant takes them, in the C&P report, and to me that could count against a claimant, as most claimants do better on meds, which could but shouldn't lower the rating.

About the 100%, I have no problem w/a claimant working, and, in fact, suggest that they work as long as possible. I do object to someone rated TDIU or 100%, for PTSD, working. Many come here wanting to work after receiving a 100% award. They don't seem to realize that they are getting paid because they can't work and if they can they should give back the money.(jmo) I worked as a fulltime career level firefighter/EMT and feel the reason I was so good at my job was my military training and what I eventually came to know as PTSD.

Good luck!

pr

Phillip

Thank you for your comments. I am wondering what meds has to do with a stressor of PTSD? I thought being on meds would be part of the rating area of the claim and not a stressor. I am new to understanding how the VA rates this condition so I am not an expert by any means just a thought.

I go through this debate with the 100% and still working subject periodically. That is why I mentioned the 50% but I am just researching and can see where I might not fit the 50% rating. I am absolutely in the 30% rating for PTSD. I fit the entire description without question. It seems the rating criteria for 30% even states something to the effect of normal conduct at work. I know it does not say normal conduct but something to that effect. 30% reads to me as a condition that effects you but you are able to still get through work with out losing your job, just minor occasional slip ups. I have made lots of changes at work and make a huge effort every day to over come my injury's/conditions to stay at my job. Work is my best help, maybe to for some others but this is how I deal with it.

[carlie]

The stressor which I should not have to much trouble documenting was: The same incident that caused my current TBI rating(lowballed and fixing) is the stressor for my PTSD. I was hit by the blast from a truck bomb that made its way on base and killed a fellow soldier from my unit. My guys and myself from my unit spent the next several days bagging him up in plastic bags, yes it took several days to complete the process. So I just wanted to be clear that my stressor is pretty significant. I think my current condition easily fits 30%. I was just wondering how much not being on meds effects your rating above 10% ?

*** *** POSSIBLE TRIGGERS IN MY REPLY *** ***

bigoc,

I can certainly see where it would be quite difficult to meet the rating

criteria for either 30 or 50 percent for a mental health disability (PTSD)

and still be able to fully function as a Firefighter.

I'm not saying it can't be done but when you breakdown the rating criteria

for either 30 or 50 percent I don't know that the person would be able to meet

all the rigid requirements that the firefighters have to deal with, daily.

There are two considerations in the schedule for rating mental health disability's,

that specifically consider medications for treatment of the MH disability itself.

Occupational and social impairment due to mild or 10

transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency

and ability to perform occupational tasks only

during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms

controlled by continuous medication...

A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but 0

symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere

with occupational and social functioning or to

require continuous medication...

[Papa]

bigoc,

I do not understand why you will not take meds for PTSD. Are you able to function as a Firefighter without any meds? I have to be on meds for my PTSD just to function. Do you get violent? Have Panic attacks? I think the most important question that you need to ask yourself is, am I putting my fellow Firefighters in any kind of danger?

Papa

[bigoc]

I almost removed my career from the post I wrote after I read it. I left it in as I did not think it would garner so much attention. I have made a choice to forgo any meds and I have managed quite well. My question is not about my decision not to take the meds. I was curious as to what anyone thought of how the va would rate such a person.

I will say, if I can do so kindly, that the concerns here are not on target. I do not mean that in a personal way but, a great deal of veteran police officers in this country are suffering from some sort of PTSD. They have guns and somehow they make do most of the time. So I will respectfully disagree with the concern of a firefighter performing their job while being diagnosed with PTSD.

[westcoastlv]

Bigoc,

You did mention that you are getting counseling. I think that will be a point in your favor with the rating. My husband has PTSD and definitely needs to take meds just to cope with daily life. As we look back, we see that he has had PTSD for a very, very long time. A long time even before we could put our finger on what was going on with him (and at the time he was working). PTSD is PTSD, the question is your ability to cope with your symptoms (with our without medication). If you feel as if you are in the 30% rating, then that's most likely what you will get. I don't think that a medication history (or lack thereof) will keep you for proving that you have issues in your daily life.

I think everyone has focused on you being a firefighter because that is very stressful in itself. When you get to your C&P exam, they are going to ask you if you're working, and as what. If you tell them you are a firefighter, the examiner or the VARO can construe that as the reason you have your sypmtoms, maybe more that the stressor from service.

Are you having nightmares, flashbacks, daydreams of your stressor? Are you avoiding different people and places because of your stressor? Are you unable to concentrate or are hypervigilant? In consideration of your job, the VARO may say NO. Why - you mentioned your stressor was a truck bomb (obviously a fire) and that you spent days collecting the remains of a fellow soldier (assumed that a firefighter often encounters dead and injured people, some in really bad shape). So it wouldn't be too far off the grid for the examiner to say that you are in some way dealing with incidents similar to your stressor (fire and injury/death). The question they would need answering is if in fact your PTSD has any affect on your ability to work productively.

As a layman, only having studied PTSD in relation to how it affects my own husband, my opinion is that you may face some strong resistance from the VA because on a surface level, you are reliving your stressor daily (fire and injury/death) through your job.

I think most people here are more concerned about your well-being (PTSD treatment) not your job. When you say you are not on meds, its hard to imagine because most PTSD sufferers are and know how difficult, if not impossible, their lives would be without the medication.

Good Luck to you.