ptsd Help With Questions On Form 21-8940

[Tricia]

Tried to keep this brief, but filled with info to avoid "ping-pong" back & forth. I have spent considerable time reviewing many of the Posts on the Forums to avoid duplicating my questions.

I have been collecting Social Security since Feb 2011 when I turned 62.

June 2012 VA disability rating: 70% PTSD; 10% GERD.

#15 DATE YOU BECAME TOO DISABLED TO WORK:

Do I enter my diagnosis date? My last employment date in 2004?

- I wasn't diagnosed with PTSD until Jan 2011.

- My last full time job ended in 1980.

- I held several part time jobs from 1981 until 1992.

- My next (& last) part time employment was in 2004 that lasted about 2 months.

#17. LIST ALL YOUR EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING SELF-EMPLOYMENT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS YOU WORKED

do I list:

- I only worked part time for about 2 months in 2004.

- The part time job I had prior to that was from 1987-1992 and they are no longer in business. There isn't anyone to track or find info as it was dissolved about 10-14 years ago.

I appreciate advice & guidance.

[john999]

I think I would enter the last date I made more than poverty level for #15. For #17 if you have not worked in last 5 years then say so. Your SSA work history can prove this and you can submit this as evidence. At the most they will only go back one year from the time you filed for TDIU unless they were to infer TDIU. When were you DX'ed with any sort of emotional/mental disability for the first time by the VA?

[Tricia]

john999: thank you for taking the time to reply.

I wasn't diagnosed with PTSD until Jan 2011; 40 years after my 3 years of Military service.

I interpret #17 to be about the last 5 employed years- in may case 1987-1992; (different than the last 5 calendar years of 2007-2012)?

I didn't know it was PTSD that caused my problems; (because I was unfamiliar that PTSD does not mean to have to have served in combat).

Now I understand why I couldn't handle the stress, anxiety, fears etc that prevented me from even applying for a job or working.