ptsd Ptsd, Ssdi, & Federal Disability Retirement Process Timelines

[MPsgt]

Nov 1, 2010 filed for VA SC for PTSD

Jul 1, 2011 Award VA SC 80% for PTSD (Approx. 9 months)

Sep 15, 2011 Applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for PTSD or anxiety according to SSA

Sep 15, 2011 Retained Harris Federal Law Firm for Federal Disability Retirement (FDR) from USPS

Jan 3, 2012 FDR submitted to OPM for approval

Jan 31, 2012 FDR case number assigned (CSA #) (Approx. 4.5 Months)

Feb 4, 2012 Awarded SSDI (Approx. 5 months)

Mar 26, 2012 OPM assigns case worker for FDR (Less than a month)

Apr 12, 2012 OPM approves FDR (2 weeks)

Apr 16, 2012 Separate from Federal Service @ USPS

Apr 18, 2012 Receive SSDI payments (Approx. 2 months)

I will post further details as they occur in the future.

[justrluk]

I'm impressed; I'll look up this firm and see if they will handle some TRICARE reimbursements and my appeal. How has their contact/communication been?

[john999]

You don't need a lawyer for OPM retirement. I did it all myself and got check it about 4 months. OPM is just about 100% medical. Where do you live? For SSD and VA it may be different since there is standard appeal process.

[MPsgt]

I agree that you don't need an attorney. However, I have severe combat PTSD and couldn't handle all the leg work. If it wasn't for my wife nothing would have gotten done. I used some of my VA Comp to pay the attorney fee @ $3,000. It was well worth the investment. I live in Kentucky, 38 YOA, still married, and struggling to seek what most people consider "normalcy". I served 5 yrs in the Army as Military Police Officer, 1 yr. with the VA as a police officer, and eventually concluded my federal service with the Postal Service. I can no longer work because of the severity of my PTSD. I'm looking for 100% IU P & T.

[MPsgt]

justrluk, I'm unsure if Harris Federal Law Firm can help you. They have a great website! However, they only have two offices that I know of, one is in Lexington, KY and the other is in Texas. I dealt with them via e-mail, phone conversations, U.S. mail, and office visits. If they take your case. They will send you a monthly status update via the U.S. Postal Service. I suggest you stay in contact with them in some form often. They are good about getting back with you ASAP. I used the KY office because it is just 20 minutes from my house. Good Luck!

[Philip Rogers]

MPsgt - no offense meant but you need to correct the 80% PTSD rating. PTSD is rated 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% or 100%. There is no 80% rating for PTSD. To get an 80% award you must have some other SC disability, combined, to get the 80% award. Just sayin' . . .

pr

Nov 1, 2010 filed for VA SC for PTSD

Jul 1, 2011 Award VA SC 80% for PTSD (Approx. 9 months)

Sep 15, 2011 Applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for PTSD or anxiety according to SSA

Sep 15, 2011 Retained Harris Federal Law Firm for Federal Disability Retirement (FDR) from USPS

Jan 3, 2012 FDR submitted to OPM for approval

Jan 31, 2012 FDR case number assigned (CSA #) (Approx. 4.5 Months)

Feb 4, 2012 Awarded SSDI (Approx. 5 months)

Mar 26, 2012 OPM assigns case worker for FDR (Less than a month)

Apr 12, 2012 OPM approves FDR (2 weeks)

Apr 16, 2012 Separate from Federal Service @ USPS

Apr 18, 2012 Receive SSDI payments (Approx. 2 months)

I will post further details as they occur in the future.

[john999]

MPsgt

Now I understand your situation better. I hired a lawyer to do my VA CUE claim while others here would be able to do that themselves. If you feel you are in over your head then get the lawyer! I had very good doctors who were advocates for me so that helped a lot. I got OWCP for mental condition

thanks to doctors who really knew how to sock it to the OWCP. If you have PTSD I think it is very important to get special relationship with a therapist. You need someone you can trust. It does not have to be at the VA.