Tbi Screening Gone Wrong...?

[doc-up8404]

First time poster here. I just wanted to vent my frustration with my first tbi screening appt today.

Background – I had a concussion during my drill weekend in late 2009 with very brief loss of consciousness (a few seconds) due to me slipping on ice and falling on my head. I was fine after 2-3 days. Fast forward to Nov 2011 in Afghanistan, I was involved in a really big IED blast, suffered a mild TBI. I got better in a couple weeks later. Came back to the sates in Jan, by early Feb 2012 I start getting worse symptoms, dizziness/vertigo, irritability, loss of coordination, loss of some memory, BAD HEAD ACHES over Left eye as well as constant neck stiffness with tension head aches, sleeping only 3-4 hours a night because I am constantly waking up.

End of March I get off orders. Now I have my “TBI screening” today. Thinking I am going to the VA to be put through the ringer of tests (or at least schedule the tests) or do SOME TYPE OF TESTS???? the Doc makes me touch my nose with my finger then with the same finger touch his nose, back and forth. Then he asks me to place one hand on top of another and flip the top hand over and back repeatedly as fast as I can. He also stated "I walked in the room with no problems" so that was a great sign I’m doing just fine.

So here is the kicker. He tells me here is some sleeping meds, you need to see mental health, and once you get sleep and talk to someone about your anxiety & anger problems you should be fine, your symptoms should go away, “YOU ARE JUST TIRED”. WTF? Are you kidding me? Yes I do have bad sleeping problems but does that cause these serious head aches that I have to shut down my life and ride them out? Does that cause all these other several symptoms I have?

I don’t know what just happened I just know I have something wrong with me that isn’t just caused by “lack of sleep”. I could go on but this should be enough info I hope. Any wisdom, guidance, help is appreciated.

[doc-up8404]

So John I guess my question is do I have to get treated and diagnosed by the VA to file and win a disability claim?

Or can i go find a private doc that takes my tri-care (I have 6 free months of it through a program called TAMP), then get treated and diagnosed by them, then file a claim with what they diagnosed me with?

I hope I am coming across clear with this question. I know what I'm asking I just don't know if i am asking the question the right way?

So say for example I never ever go back to that dreaded VA, I go elsewhere. Get treated and diagnosed by a private doc. Then take all my records from my active duty, "paper trail" of what happened to me, then I take all the private docs diagnoses and treatment rendered. Then I submit this to a rater, or c and p or whoever.

Will all of that be enough to win my claim?

Can I never go back to VA and still put in a solid winning claim?

[cooter]

To answer your question, yes you can. Alot of Vets just deal with their own private Dr's instead of the VA. I for one does. Although, it does make it easier when you establish a paper trail with the VA, but not necessary. The private Dr route makes it easier on me due to the mileage between VAMC and home.

Like John said, your better off being treated somewhere other than the VA. I can defiantly vouch for that.

Coot

[john999]

What I do is use the VA for paper trail and use a real doctor for actual treatment. I used a private clinical psychologist for many, many years. He actually helped me avoid a life on the fringe of society. I used the VA for pills and to make the paperwork. I I had stuck with just what the VA had to offer I would be institutionalized. I am not kidding. If you have any emotional problems/TBI get a private doctor who you can trust and who will be there for you. My long time VA doctor just quit and left no referral for me. The VA dropped me off the mental health list. I had to get back on and wait two months for an appointment.

John

[doc-up8404]

Cooter/John. Thanks I will mos def look into getting a private Doc for treatments. On a better not I guess I met my mental health wizard today and although I had no idea what to expect, I was impressed. He did a good job and wanted to see me again asap so I made an appt for the day after next. I guess I will stick it out with him then see what type of outside neurologist I can have treat/diagnosis me. It's going to be a long road ahead but this site is nothing flat of amazing. Veterans supporting veterans is what it's all about, so thanks. I will re-post when I get more info or have more questions. Thanks again!

[john999]

If you have a TBI the damage is done is it not? What is the treatment besides pills?

[Berta]

"Berta, those are all great links, I do have trouble with reading everything and it's things like reading where my concentration has diminished. I do have the IED incident very well documented, and the concussion I got a few years ago is in documented in a hand written soap note (sf600) but it was done by a fellow corpsman so it should be good. "It was not however, signed by a provider, hopefully that will still suffice? "

I think that should definitely establish your nexus for the head trauma.Then again hard to guess on what the VA will do.

But I hope others will comment on what I state here next.

Since TBI was declared the 'signature' injury for many OIF OEF veterans returning home since these Gulf,Afganistan, Iraq wars began, the VA has also done a tremendous amount of positive work to properly diagnose and treat the residuals of TBI.

Also the VA has separated PTSD from TBI and a veteran can be awarded both types of comp,if the medical evidence warrants it and they have both DX of the TBI as well as PTSD DX.

But my point here is that claims for 'head injury', or concussion residuals might well not trigger the VA to even consider the vet might be claiming residual disability a bonafide TBI due to a provable inservice event such as IED.

For PTSD the new regs say the VA must make the PTSD diagnosis.

For TBI any good Neuro could.

I brought this up because I have seen claims that are 'vague' as to what the disability is (and sometimes the vet does not have the clear medical diagnosis yet) and any of these 'vague' claims are denied right away.

What might be obvious to us claimants here---

Such as Migraines and/or emotional liability etc and also inservice accident or IED in a OIF OEF- would trigger us here right away to consider both PTSD and TBI-as potential solid claims-

But that is not the way VA looks at stuff.

So original claims must be worded in the best way for VA to understand them.

"On a better not I guess I met my mental health wizard today and although I had no idea what to expect, I was impressed. He did a good job and wanted to see me again asap so I made an appt for the day after next. I guess I will stick it out with him."

That is great news!

Was this a VA or a private doctor- the VA does have some superb MH doctors.If you claim PTSD you will need the PTSD diagnosis from a VA doctor.