Is My Disability Service Connected?

[elmersnutz]

Within my first year of discharge from the Army in 2000, I saw a Doctor for mental health problems and they prescribed to me the Schizophrenia medicine zyprexa. That doctor and all the others I have seen up to now, couldnt give me a defenit answer to what was wrong with me. Until I began hearing voices and had to be sent to a psychiatric ward in 2009, I was diagnosed as being a paranoid Schizophrenic with depression.

My questions are: Does me seeing a Doctor within one year of discharge and being put on Schizophrenia medication make a good claim for service connected disability? Also does never getting a diagnoses from any of my doctors up until I started hearing voices and was diagnosed as being Schizophrenic hurt my claim?

[Pete53]

You have a claim and be treated within a year helps but you will have to get your ducks in a row to win a claim. You will have to be able to document symptoms but even more important is to get a Doc's opinion that you have it now and that in the Doc's opinion it started during your service.

Yes you can win your claim but it will not be easy.

[john999]

Did you file a claim within one year of discharge and did you ever get treatment or have documented symptoms of schizophrenia while in the service? I filed a claim for schizophrenia within one year of discharge. I got 10% back in 1973 and the VA did ignore my IMO, so it is not a cake walk. I had in-service treatment records and they still tried to shaft me. I agree with what Pete said about getting your ducks in a row. You might even get a lawyer if you claim is denied. What kind of discharge did you get?

[elmersnutz]

Did you file a claim within one year of discharge and did you ever get treatment or have documented symptoms of schizophrenia while in the service? I filed a claim for schizophrenia within one year of discharge. I got 10% back in 1973 and the VA did ignore my IMO, so it is not a cake walk. I had in-service treatment records and they still tried to shaft me. I agree with what Pete said about getting your ducks in a row. You might even get a lawyer if you claim is denied. What kind of discharge did you get?

I recieved an Honorable discharge. No I didnt recieve treatment or have anything documented while I was in the Army.