ptsd Devastated, Worried.... Ptsd/all Denied.

[midnight340]

I don't even know where to begin. I'm shaking, and avoiding my emotional response as much as possible. I wanted to get some of this down before whatever happens next.

My case decided on Jan 27, and closed two days ago. One year (with last three months flagged for hardship), Today an American Legion person at my VARO was able to read my letter and tells me my PTSD and all other claims were denied. I am 65, so pension was awarded at $311/mo on top of my $702 social security check.

My initial claim went in with PTSD, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and a string of other claims. I have seen three VA psychiatrists, all of whom confirm PTSD. My C&P says PTSD is "severe and chronic" and "not likely to improve" and that I am "unable to work." My GAF score was 42. The VA added TDIU to my claim.

Everything was denied because they say I was assigned to the FDR (aircraft carrier) operating off the East Coast at the time of the major stressor in California. (We flew back and forth to the carrier) The records show that I was assigned to the carrier as my photo recon squadron was assigned to the ship, but home base was NAS Miramar in California where my major stressor happened. (I was present when a fighter crashed into a hangar, with 11 deaths, 26 to burn unit, etc.)

I had three other stressors while working the flight deck on the carrier, all of which my C&P says meet stressor standards. These were denied because I have no medical records from the time showing I experienced this. (Am I alone in not going to sick bay when someone got killed? This was 1970! ) I wrote careful and extended accounts of all stressors with notes on the impact on my life. I was very detailed and careful.

I am fortunate to have the best relationship ever in my life, and to have had support through all this, but financial stresses have been extreme with bankruptcy and foreclosure. I don't know if this is survivable.

The American Legion person at my VARO says I or they need to find flight logs from my squadron showing my being at Miramar at the time. I don't know if this is possible.

I don't know that anyone can help. But I needed to write this down.

Edited February 10, 2012 by midnight340

[68mustang]

I'm fairly new at this, don't know what the JSRRC is.... I do know what it stands for, but don't know what they do...

Steve, I got the email from Pat. Thanks for all your efforts!!

Mystic, thank you for cheering us on in this!!!

I promise if I make it through this and win this, that I will be here for other vets!!! You guys are all great.

Hope this help it is a previous post here on hadit. I found out a JSRRC review had been done on my stressors. when I requested a copy of my C-file and a copy of the JSRRC review of my stressors was there. My stressors were confirmed in the review. What you need to find out is whether a JSRRC review was done to confirm your stressors.

68mustang

[midnight340]

68mustang, I don't think the JSRRC review was done. In my decision they said I did not give enough evidence to do a records search for my other stressors. I now understand that they need approx. dates of crashes/deaths and/or plane #'s, etc. Maybe now that I have the link for information on CVA-42 I will find more.

I will work on this... since I thought the Miramar event was beyond question I did not pursue the others so much. oops. Had I done that it would have been good, as all I listed were stated in my C&P as meeting requirements to be considered as stressors. (there were three besides the Miramar event)

[carlie]

.. since I thought the Miramar event was beyond question I did not pursue the others so much. oops. Had I done that it would have been good, as all I listed were stated in my C&P as meeting requirements to be considered as stressors. (there were three besides the Miramar event)

These other stressors - did the C&P doc in any way related these to your current diagnosis of PTSD ?

Were these "other" stressors discussed in the Reasons section ?

What exactly is stated ?

[midnight340]

Carlie, the primary sentences in response to service connection were:

"In your claim for service connection for post traumatic stress disorder, you submitted information stating you witnessed an aircraft accident while stationed at Miramar Naval Air Station (NAS) in December 1969. In addition you reported multiple stressful incidents while deployed with the U.S.S. Franklin Roosevelt. The evidence from your military personnel records show you were deployed with the U.S.S. Franklin Roosevelt during the aircraft crash at Miramar NAS, and you failed to submit enough evidence to request additional evidence from the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) regarding your other claimed stressful incidents."

[68mustang]

68mustang, I don't think the JSRRC review was done. In my decision they said I did not give enough evidence to do a records search for my other stressors. I now understand that they need approx. dates of crashes/deaths and/or plane #'s, etc. Maybe now that I have the link for information on CVA-42 I will find more.

I will work on this... since I thought the Miramar event was beyond question I did not pursue the others so much. oops. Had I done that it would have been good, as all I listed were stated in my C&P as meeting requirements to be considered as stressors. (there were three besides the Miramar event)

Bottomline is that you have fellow shipmates give you buddy statements placing you at the scene. Official documents will also help. Those things will go a long way in proving your stressors.

68mustang

[NJBB62]

It's all about submitting the correct evidence, Don't give up just get tougher and do more research

and collect all the paperwork they need, your almost there...They do this to all of us, Thank God for

this site!

NJ