ptsd Ptsd Or Depression?

[vistagirl81]

My husband had his compensation exam for an increase for PTSD on Monday and I am worried about it because the psychiatrist while he was inpatient was not helpful. In May my husband attempted suicide and had to be checked in for a couple of days (which turned out to be a horrible experience). The psychiatrist gave him a GAF score of 50 and states that there was a strong suspicion of factitious disorder with ailments of malingering, does appear to be depressed. There are multiple disparities and patients pt’s record, to numerous to list here and that makes me doubt a dx of PTSD. When I went to pick up his c&p exam, the examiner stated:

Current diagnosis:

Diagnosis 1: depressive disorder , not otherwise specific; Axis 1

Diagnosis 2: deferred: potential clustered btraits vs. personality disorder. Axis 2

Axis 3- medical diagnosus (to include tbi)

Axis 4- chronic pain

Axis 5- Gaf-45

Occupational and social impairments with deficiencies in most areas, such as; work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and or mood.

Symptoms for Va rating purposes:

Depressed mood, impairment of short and long term memory, disturbance of motivation and mood, difficult in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, suicide ideation, intermittent inability to perform ADL’s including maintaining a minimum personal hygiene.

Other symptoms;

Labile mood/affected dysregulation that appears may be chacterological in nature. Veteran currently depends on his wife for daily household responsibilities including finances.

After a thurough review of the c-files, CPRS record, previous c and p exams, and response and observation form the current clinic interview it does not appear that the veteran mental health issues are reflective of PTSD. Other VA providers have also noted the questioning the PTSD diagnosis based on his presentation and behavior. The single PTSD system report on this date reports of nightmares. His report of reactions to the described harassment seem more reflective of depressive symptoms as opposed to PTSD. Depressed mood and affect dysregulation were predominant and his current presentation in report are symptoms of Axis 2 (potential clustered btraits vs. personality disorder) condition is suspected but its deferred at this point cannot be conclusively formulated in this single visit without more speculation of note.

Veteran presents himself in a way that would indicate he would be unable to obtain or sustain gainful employment at this time. He is currently in the caregiver program which facilitates veterans being dependent on his wife for many aspects of activities of daily living. It seems unlikely that the veteran would demonstrate an improved level of functioning in a place of employment.

My questions are; A) since they stated that he does not have PTSD but depression, will he lose his compensation? Will we have to start all over again and wait another year? B) Will the psychiatrists subjective statements while my husband was in treatment hurt my husband’s chances of obtaining an increase or unemployability? He saw numerous diagnosis (none of which I diagnosed him with) and stated that my husband was lying and he was doing this for almost 5 years for financial reasons (what financial reasons, we were better off before he was depressed/PTSD). C) I know that it is a long shot, but what do you all think his chances are. I have been on here enough to know that majority of you know what you are talking about.

Thank you all in advance.

[john999]

I don't think he will lose his compensation. In fact, if he is not getting 100% or TDIU he should be getting it. The hospital report is a lot of speculation about a personality disorder, depression vs PTSD etc. I think the hospital report supports either TDIU or 100% for depression/PTSD. A service connected DX of depression is just as good as PTSD as long as the exam doctor says he can't work.

[vistagirl81]

Thank you. I was very angry when I read his files. He made it seem like my husband diagnosed himself with everything that is wrong with him and not the psychiatrists and psychologists that he has been seeing for years. I am not a doctor so I have to believe that that the VA doctors know what they are doing. I guess we will have to wait a couple of months to find out for sure.

[john999]

Vista

I would not be too sure about VA doctors knowing what they are doing. I was accused of fraud just because I had a college degree in psychology and could describe my symptoms.

[vistagirl81]

John,

I have to hope that they know what they are doing (some of them) if I want to believe that my husband will get better or live with his disabilities. I know that there are ones out there who try not to help in any way possible and are looking for “fraud” and ways to hurt veterans. To be honest, I just don’t want to fight again just because they diagnosed him wrong 5 years ago. I am a full time student and my husband cannot be left alone and if they deny him and take away his compensation; we will be homeless. We have some money saved up, but not enough for years of appeals. I don’t even know how to tell him if they deny him because he is not going to understand.

[deanbrt]

Depression should be ratable. But PTSD is fast tracked. the doctor did write that he cannot work, which is good. And the suicide attempt puts the rating higher, I think. since it is already service connected he may be ok.

[vistagirl81]

deanbrt,

I don’t think that PTSD is fast tracked because he has been waiting for over a year to get a c & p exam. Thank you for your advice though I really appreciate it. I know that depression is ratable but since his original claim was for PTSD with major depressive disorder and not just the depression that they diagnosed him with recently. They may deny him and have us start over. I hope not, but from researching the VA will deny on just about any grounds.