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ptsd File Now Or Wait?
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Question
hedgey
Here's the situation: DH was in severe MVA 35 years ago while in the Army. Severe burns, months in the burn center, lots of scarring & reconstructive surgeries, etc. He's rated SC 80% for scars and burn damage to his shoulder.
He has just started seeing a therapist 6 months ago for his emotional problems, and the VA therapist and two different VA psychiatrists have dx'd him with PTSD. The therapist (as MSW) verified the doctor's dx's, but we still DO NOT have copies of these MH / medical records yet (requested in June & again in August... still waiting!).
His newer VA psychiatrist brought up the possibility of a TBI from the MVA because DH told her about the vehicle rolling 3 times (have copies of extensive reports about the crash, burns, surgeries, etc.).
One minute DH wants to file TODAY because he knows that the clock won't start ticking until he does. But the next minute, DH wants to wait until he has his VAMC / MH records for the last 6 months, with the PTSD diagnosis, in his hand because he's afraid that if he files, the PTSD diagnosis & progress notes might disappear from the VAMC computers...
Also, now there's the issue of possible TBI. The VA psychiatrist told us that she believes he has TBI from his accident (based on what he told her), but it's not definite without further testing.
So this is another "what if?" for my poor DH to try to cope with. What if he does have a TBI? Should he wait until he has that dx to file for both PTSD & TBI? Should they be separate claims or one claim?
My gut says that the PTSD is clear and present and no professional who has spent more than 5 minutes with DH disagrees with that judgment. Plus, the evidence of the trauma is in our hands and literally visible on his hands & face, etc.
TBI, that isn't so clear, is it? I mean, I know they can diagnose it, but I don't believe the medical records say much about concussion, etc, because at the time the focus was on his other injuries, keeping him alive, infection, collapsed lung, broken ribs & shoulder, etc.. Plus it was 30++ years ago. Would they try to say it was from something recent? It's tough to prove that he's been unable to remember things or recognize faces when he has made a point of not having friends and keeping to himself all these years. There's no one he can ask to bear witness... except me, and wouldn't they consider me a biased witness? Do MRI's show when a TBI is old? Does the brain atrophy like a damaged muscle would?
But the record shows that his vehicle hit a bridge abuttment at full highway speed, flipped 3 times, so I don't know, maybe it wouldn't have to be specifically addressed in the medical reports.
Anyway, I'm waffling as badly as he is. The VA rep who helped me isn't in the area anymore, so I don't know what to tell him.
One thing for sure is that I'm very glad he's in therapy. It's hard, because the memories are coming back loud & strong, and it kills me to watch him struggle with it even more than he did. He's been prescribed meds (he really balked at that, but he gave in. He's taking Zoloft... so far not much difference except he's drowsy with it. Same thing with the Lorazepam, though it has helped him get through the day more than once.
I'm sorry to blather on so. It's tough because we have each other, and that's about it. All our parents are gone except his mother, who does NOT understand, never did. I have one brother left that I'm in contact with, but don't talk to him about this stuff. Haven't talked to him more than twice since mom died..
Ack!! I will stop typing now. Just going to restate the question(s):
Should DH file for PTSD now, or wait for his records (he does have his SMRs, just wants his current VA med/mh records). Should he wait until the results are in for TBI and file for both, or should he do them separately?
I'm sorry to go on like this. Thanks for any help...
Let us be kind, one to another, for we are each of us together in our pain.
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