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Ptsd Or Depression?

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john999

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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.

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this is from last year on Hadit...

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    • Location:McKinney, Texas
    • Interests:Veterans Service Officer
    • Service Connected Disability: 100%
    • Branch of Service: USMC

    Posted 26 January 2011 - 05:22 PM

    Get ALL your ducks in a row.

    Get set up with the VA Medical Center, get your VA ID card (fill out form 10-10EZ). See your Primary Care Physician and tell them of the problems that you are having and get set up for treatment for these problems. In other words, establish a record of treatment. And get copies of this treatment. Especially important if you are being treated for PTSD at your local VA facility, you MUST get VA diagnosis for your PTSD.

    Get all your Service Medical Records and get your service records showing where you were (especially pertinent to PTSD and Agent Orange). IF any of your service records show any treatment or any indication leading to the reason for your claim, get it copied to send (never, ever send originals).

    Get any of your private medical treatment records if they pertain to your claim and will assist in the awarding thereof.

    Get VA Form 21-526EZ (download it from the VA.gov website). Read it throughly and COMPLETELY before filling out any of the little blanks. Then, when you KNOW that you understand what they want and what you have and that you have all the info that they want.........FILL IT OUT and SEND IT IN!

    You will have turned in a FULLY DEVELOPED CLAIM and it will be fast tracked.

    I just had one of my veterans that was awarded 70% PTSD within 29 days.

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medical diagnosus (to include tbi)

Does he get compensation for the TBI?

His report of reactions to the described harassment seem more reflective of depressive symptoms as opposed to PTSD. “

Was this harrassment an inservice event that he can prove?

Is he compensated by VA now -and if so what for?

What psychiatric tests was he given to support any of the negative statements this doctor made? Such as MMPI etc.

While in service he was diagnosed with MDD, so maybe it will go back to that. “ ????

I didnt see the doctor had mentioned that significant point or mention he did any review of his SMRs.

Has he claimed PTSD due to the TBI incident?

I would think almost every TBI in service stems from an event that was traumatic, such as IED or motor vehicle accident.

"his original claim was for PTSD with major depressive disorder and not just the depression that they diagnosed him with recently."

Hopefully they will re characterize the claim as one for depression, with an inservice documented nexus that you stated can be found in his SMRs.

It seems they are not going to diagnose him with PTSD.

Edited by Berta
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  • HadIt.com Elder

Sorry I have not posted sooner but its my opinion that any lifelong medical condition can and does coss depresstion. I am diagnosed with Major Depression and Panic Disorder with Agorophobia and the fact is the Depression came after the Panic Disorder.

Of course for me the VA considers the two conditions to be comorbid. To get it rated separately I think you probably need a Medical Opinion that lays out how, when and why these are seperate conditions.

Good Luck

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I’m sorry that I have not responded to your responses. School and my husband’s appointments have been hectic these past couple of weeks.

My husband does not have compensation for a TBI (they stated that since he did 4 years after the accident, he was fine). He has a 70% rating (50% for PTSD, 10% Knee injury, 30% migraines and 10% tinnitus).

The tests that they were commenting about were cognitive tests. They stated that since he graduated from high school and completed 8 years in service, he should not be exhibiting cognitive disabilities to the point in where he has memory loss and his inability to speak what he is thinking ( he cannot put the proper words to tell people what he is thinking).

The harassment that he received was severe and it has been proven through his files and the reasons he was reduced in rank a month before his enlistment ended. He called me daily and I made him promise that he would not kill himself. When he was unable to call I was so worried that he killed himself and even now it is a struggle.

While he was in the service he was diagnosed with depression and spent some time in the mental hospital.

He has already been diagnosed with PTSD; they think that they diagnosed him wrong when he got out of the military.

I do not think he should have to say his depression was from another injury because he became depressed while in service.

My concern is they will stop his compensation of 50% for PTSD and give another C&P exam for depression. His original claim was for depression with PTSD and they gave him PTSD due to reading his records. He is unable to work and I am in school because I have to make more money to compensate what he could have made if he was okay.

Thank you all for reading and responding.

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"I do not think he should have to say his depression was from another injury because he became depressed while in service.

I think most VSOs will tell you depression on its own will be a tough sell. I hope that I will be proven wrong in this case....

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