ptsd Social Security Denied...what's New?

[halos2]

Veteran worked over 48 years and never applied for or received unemployment benefits as he always worked. The last 12 years has had many problems changing jobs back and forth between 2.

Put in VA claim in 05, and appealed a few times and was at 60% with PTSD @50% and Tinnitus @ 10% so vet receives 60%...still has VA claims appeals, however denied unemployment for "irrational behavior, and use of foul language and yelling and shouting co-workers and explosiveness!

" Denied unemployment so he had to file for regular SS benefits, and filed for SSDI. DENIED! So he has an appeal for SSDI and one for his IU. VA is doing nothing with his claim, knowing he is unable to find employment/therefore no job but they too refuse to act on this.

So now he sits more depressed than prior and waiting since 05/09 VA, and 11/10 SSDI to get some action.

He did a Congressional Inquiry with SSDI and they seemed to get response "SSDI will investigate." 2 months ago...VA says file was with rater and pulled for inquiry, so it will take forever to get back to a rater... WTF? He is VN vet awarded Bronze star with Valor...for combat, and states killing the enemy,,,yet VA and SSDI appear to think or believe he is OK? Or think maybe he will die while waiting? This is getting so old!!

[halos2]

Berta, He does not use a computer very well There is one in his home but he is lower than a novice when it comes to usage. He does not really have the desire to learn either. He is a member Tuy Hoa vet.

No he did not add this meds to his forms. Guess he thought everything is in his records.

He was in a PTSD tx program, yes. Problem is some of the guys in the program kept telling him to try and "act normal" or they will try to keep him longer or might do shock treatments on him!! Are you kidding??

So he went in with a GAF 42 and came out with a 55...He did have episodes of screaming nightmares where staff or roommates would wake him up.(Yelling I'm gonna kill you or something to the effects get them, get them, etc) (some were documented in nurses notes)

VA hosp sent 95 pages of his VA hospital tx info, however I don't know if they have the one's from his inpatient PTSD tx one's?? They knew he was in there, but could it be because he tried to be "on his best behavior" the last 2 weeks it hurt him? He was a very violent man too. Abusive to wife and family. Violent in fact. Alcoholic, but drinks seldom anymore.

I have helped him along this way but it seems like he doesn't want them to know how warped he really is and every once and a while tries to "act normal" as he really believes he will be committed into a insane hospital...(Do they even have these anymore?) He did get an attorney for his SSDI but I told him NOT to for the VA claim...I helped him these years, and there is basically nothing different an attorney could do at this point, and I as a relative have done it all for him, so he can receive help in his life freely! Thanks for your impute. He doesn't remember his password for hadit, so he will have to learn how to retrieve it. Time for him to get involved with computers 101... OMG I did write a post about him like over 20 months ago...found out his spouse wrote some comments back then for him...Don't know why I let them drag me back into trying to help them except I did have them file for SSDI as you folks here at hadit suggested... Thanks for more info to give her (him) esp from Berta and PR.

Edited January 3, 2013 by halos2

[halos2]

This vet received notification he was to have C & P exams for his conditions claimed...one for ED because he put a claim in for it a few years back, and one for hearing loss?? He did not put in a claim for hearing loss, and both were related to his claim for IU...This seems really odd. Nothing really mentions his increase for mental health PTSD related to the IU...He will go to these, and beings that he is not going to see BH do you think the VARO has enough evidence regarding his mental status and documentation to not need more to grant this yet are trying to tie up his ED with it? The hearing loss is a questionable thing as no where has he claimed this...He does receive 10% for Tinnitus, and this was granted back from 05...

Any comments or suggestions on what else he should do/say regarding this questionable claim?

[jbasser]

It could be inferred from the Examiner from the tinnitus exam., It could be other things. A mistake.

The Vet needs to go and be prepared for any exam.

J

[halos2]

It could be inferred from the Examiner from the tinnitus exam., It could be other things. A mistake.

The Vet needs to go and be prepared for any exam.

J

The original date of Tinnitus was 05 and he got the usual 10% They denied hearing loss back then but did give him hearing aides. He never appealed that rating...He did start out at 30 % PTSD and went to 50% but did put in for increase for that, and put in for IU too...Basically been waiting since 09 for the original appeal dates. Yes the ED was one he applied for in 08 though...Told him to go for whatever they have him scheduled for and to be honest and truthful on all his disabilitating conditions...Thanks John for you comment.

[meghp0405]

I do hope that this veteran with a bronze star with a V (valor) device is receiving the care he needs at the VA. Those should never downplay any award with a V device!ss

It is difficult to obtain SC for hearing loss from the VA, unless you have hearing loss. On the form that the audiologists will complete, there are 5 blocks that they write the decibals of hearing loss in. The first three blocks beginning on the left going right have to be a 40 or greater to receive compensation from the VA.

By virtue of him being a veteran, the VA will monitor his hearing and if there comes a time when hearing aides are needed the VA will provide the vet with them and they will also maintain them. There was a comment above about this vet only receiving "the usual 10% for tinnitus". Unfortunately, the VA only rates tinnitus at a 10%, whether it is singular or bilateral.

I pray for this veteran, it seems his life has been turned upside down, but how many lives of other veterans have also been turned upside down due to war, MST, the list goes on and on. It just effects us differently when it is somone close, family or friends.

The VA has come a long way when dealing with veterans dealing with any type of mental health conditions and they have a much longer road to travel until each veteran needing these services can be either resolved or able to maintain a quality of life where they can hopefully live a less disruptive life. I would hope that the VA focus on what event he experienced 12 years ago that caused him to be the individual that can no longer work, tolerate people, and behave in the manner which he is...

Edited January 21, 2013 by meghp0405

[halos2]

He went for the 2 exams he was scheduled for last week. Noticed he was 0% prior for hearing and does have hearing aides they gave him when initially tested and receiving the 0%.

Well he said the examiner was abrupt and half way through the exam she said well your hearing is the same, after he asked for some hearing aide batteries, as he has been buying his own all these years. He found out others get their batteries free from VAMC. So he knows where that will go.

Other exam was for ED. Brought in copies of his side effects/adverse reactions from the 5 different antidepressants they had him on, plus these were copied in his VAMC records and reasons they changed them 4 times...The physician was rude and wanted to talk more about himself, I was told...

Told vet even thou Psychiatrist wrote in records he has had problems since 2008 and documented in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and now he doesn't think tha'ts why he has ED. He has PTSD, and is just plain getting older and that is probably why. He wrote notes during these exams so he could remember.

His Psychiatrist stated he had ED and probably side effect of antidepressants, on numerous notes throughout the years. She is a medical doctor first...plus he had other appeals in and mostly his IU which was not addresses or ordered yet! So who knows but does sound doubtful!