ptsd Hi Long Time Reader, New To Posting

[wm36]

Hi All,

First thanks to all, especially the elders for all of the valuable information posted here. It has helped me a great deal.

I have read a number of posts and used the info for my benefit.

I was a Marine from 1998-2003. I suffer from Major Depression and PTSD.

I filed a claim for benefits shortly after service--2004 and got denied and gave up. I was in such a bad place that I didn't have the will or energy to fight the decision. After several hospitalizations and getting so depressed and anxious that I was no longer working at one point gave up on ever leaving my house and upon advice from the Women's clinic at my Va (West Haven, Connecticut) I refiled in 2006.

After an unfavorable decision at the RO level, I appealed to BVA, waited there for three years, and final got a remand in Nov 2011.

I've made several mistakes: like not having m C-file: upon receiving it I realized that My medical records were incomplete. It was as if someone took the last year of my service and erased it from the record. Literally, the last notation was for june 2002, not to give into conspiracy thoughts I hope that this was a clerical error of some sort (however there is a part of me that truly believes they were removed or disappeared on purpose because I was perfectly fit until the last year of my problems when I was diagnosed with Addison's, and depression and these notations were all included in the copy I had.)

I then let the file leave the RO without giving them the copies I had of the records noting that my depression started and was treated while I was in service. I listened to my DAV service officer who claimed that my file went straight to Washington and there was nothing he could do. NOTE: my file never left the RO for a year and I was within my time limit to submit new evidence.

I never had a hearing and was never sent for a C&P examination during this odyssey.

Fast forward to the present.

I have plenty of questions on what happens now.

I got a remand in Nov and now am waiting for the AMC-- which according to all the posts is going to be another ridiculously long wait.

But this post was to introduce myself. Thanks in advance for helping me with my host of forthcoming questions and I am so glad this site exists for info, to celebrate vicariously those that win, to state my hobby has become reading the posts, to laugh at the rants--I have a few in me like HOW is it that when I informed the VA that I was divorced they were able to open the claim for dependency, get a notification to me that I owed them money, resolve my second dependent paperwork for my daughter, close the claim and start collection in 18 days and my claim for benefits has been languishing for 6 years, I understand it is more complex to decide and rate disability claims but is it 597 times (rough calculation in how long Ive been waiting) more complex?

Mollymarine in limbo...

[carlie]

I had my C&P in dec. I received what I think is a favorable opinion. I have a copy of the exam and her conclusions. " The claim condition was as likely as not (50 percent or greater possibility) incurred in or caused by the claimed in service injury, event, or illness.)" She wrote detailed notes and it looks like I had a fair and complete exam.

The mental health exam above - did this opinion relate to depression?

If yes, you should be good to go and if yes I WOULD NOT SUBMIT ANYTHING ELSE, AT THIS TIME.

Here's my basic thoughts on this - when the issue is for PTSD / Depression / MDD - whatever . . .

I really could care less which one VA wants to hang the hat on when they grant the issue as SC'd

and compensable - they all compensate at the same amount. They denied my PTSD a few times

for SC - BUT they wound up granting for depression.

My point here is - they are providing the medical care I want for my mental health

and they are providing compensation for my loss of occupational functioning due to mental health -

I am satisfied with this and it's been my decision to leave it as is - there would be no additional benefit

for me to continue waging war, for them to grant my PTSD as SC'd.

So we are now in March and I have no clue what is happening with my claim. Ebennie does not give info for AMC adjudicated claims.

It is with the AMC which I have learned is the black hole for claims. My question is (sorry for extra- long post.)

1. I there a way to get the AMC to send my case to Hartford RO?They seem to move quicker on claims. Or am I stuck waiting an additional year in the dark about this claim?

AMC = Bermuda Triangle.

You do not get to pick the RO - it should go the the AOJ.

IMO - A year at AMC would be a blessing, but this is only my opinion.

2. Can the dependency claim that I ranted about earlier hold things up? It has been closed as of Feb 28.

I do not think it should - but keep in mind - your c-file can't be in two places at once.

Your VARO probably has some kind of skeleton copy as a back up and should be able to

process a dependency claim off of it. - JMHO

3. My claim seems pretty straight forward and I have not so much a sneezed any additional paperwork to anyone for years. I have been very patient and I try not to get too worked up, however like many I am in dire circumstances financially and I'm not prepared to wait another 2 years to get this decision, so If anyone has any advice on how I can get away from the AMC please please please answer this.

No way I know of to get away from the AMC.

JMHO

[Commander Bob]

Greetings 'wm36'

Edited March 15, 2012 by Commander Bob

[usmc89]

Semper Fi! wm36 welcome to Hadit! You are in good hands here.

[wm36]

Thanks all for the replies and advice.

Special thanks to Carlie. You are right I don't care what the diagnosis is, as long as I get a fair rating for it and the ability to get treated at my VA without having to go through an overloaded Women's clinic and paying close to 70 dollars a month for my prescriptions.

Hartford RO is the RO of original jurisdiction, so I was thinking that the sensible thing for the BVA to do would be to send the claim back to Hartford if it had any interest in closing the claim in a timely manner--I am also a lurker of the ASPIRE and Monday Morning Reports (not entirely helpful to many, but I find the numbers interesting). But what makes sense is not always what happens. Special shout out to all who have posted to teach valuable lessons in the craziness of VA

But if I am stuck with the AMC, it is what it is. So thanks for the info.

To others, My Service records did find their way to my C-file after I sent them in so no worries there, and I also receive SSDI, however the amount is very small as my work history for the last several years is very spotty. I went through the cycle of blaming myself for my troubles, taking jobs that would stress me to the point of hospitalization, getting emergency treatment, and then blaming myself for my troubles, taking jobs that would stress me out...you get the picture.

So like a good Marine i will hurry up and wait and hope that the news gets better for us vets.

Molly Marine feels better for finally posting...

[Quaymar]

Welcome Mollymarine. Wow, you certainly have endured quite a nightmare. I see that some people have given you some good advice already. I will also try to help any way that I can. Good luck, I hope you get everything you deserve...NEVER give up!!

[Quaymar]

--I am also a lurker of the ASPIRE and Monday Morning Reports (not entirely helpful to many, but I find the numbers interesting).

What is ASPIRE and the Monday Morning Reports? I've never heard of those...mind sharing?