Jump to content
VA Disability Community via Hadit.com

VA Disability Claims Articles

Ask Your VA Claims Question | Current Forum Posts Search | Rules | View All Forums
VA Disability Articles | Chats and Other Events | Donate | Blogs | New Users

  • homepage-banner-2024-2.png

  • donate-be-a-hero.png

  • 0

C&p Exam: Occupational And Social Functioning

Rate this question


peacecindia

Question

My actual Occupational & Social Functioning:

>I did not tell the c&p examiner that I was psycho about my daughter bringing a guy

into my house in the night and I felt the only recourse I had was to remove my daughter's bed from her room and put it behind the garage, because she had the attitude she could do whatever she wants to do...

>I didn't tell the c&p examiner that I really need sleeping pills, because I live with

a guy I don't like so I go to bed at 4-5 am to avoid him and only go to bed when I can't stay awake.

>I didn't tell the examiner I hate my neighbors for having a rooster that crows when I'm getting ready for bed and about the camp fires the neighbors have when they smoke their weed outside. The smell of skunk and trash smoke comes in my house and it makes me want to cook the rooster and set fire to my neighbors house.

> I don't answer the phone and make sure the doors are locked and windows are too, I'd say

I'm pretty damn hypervigilant. Hypervigilance exhausts me. The c&p conversation never went here.

>If I told the examiner I feel homicidal when this guy who lives with me sneaks around and puts his arms

around my waist as if we are a happy couple and nothing's wrong...I'd probably get a conditional VA check with a fidiciuary.

So, the c&p examiner determined that I'm occupationally and socially impaired at the 50% level. My gaf was 46 I think. My VA therapist disagrees with the c&p examiner's determination.

It's hard to try to be sane and not seem too suicidal or too homicidal and still avoid someone mistaking you as a troublemaker or a faker at a c&p exam.

Now comes the hard part of knowing what to do next...how is my lawyer going to handle my VA therapist

saying that the c&p examiner got it wrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Answers 7
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters For This Question

Recommended Posts

  • Moderator

My advice is to read over the C and P yourself. The criticaly important thing is not so much if the doc knew all those things, but did you get a nexus? Since you are at 50 % I will assume you are seeking an increase and already have your nexus.

You dont want to either over exaggerate or under exaggerate your symptoms. Most Vets advocates recommend you tell your C and P about your worst day. If things went well yesterday at your daughters birthday party, then tell the examiner how bad things went on Saturday.

If your C and P exam is very negative and does not represent your actual condition well, then you can seek:

1. Another VA docs opinion, and tell him what you told us.

2 In IMO or an IME

The last two you will likely have to pay for. However, if your exam is very negative, you probably are not going to get your increase without a good strong nexus and accurate symptom reporting by the doc. You can hardly blame the doc for not reporting accurately your symptoms if you did not tell him of them.

The C and P exam is over, and you just have to move on. If you were not as forthcoming with your symptoms, then when you go to the next one, write them down so you dont forget.

Lots of time the examiner "gets" you at "How are you?" They recommend you think about that answer and not just respond the classic "Fine". Its ok to respond "fine" to the grocery clerk greetings, because we often have a habit of minimizing our symptoms because we dont want to bore others with our health issues.

A better answer to the C and P examiner's question may be (but always be truthfull, this is just an example):

"I am as good as can be under the circumstances. On Saturday, the police were called, again, for domestic violence. Monday, I had a panic attack and wanted someone to take me to the hospital but was afraid to drive myself, so I took 2 atavans and zoned out." etc, etc. You dont have to tell them about your "good" day, on Thursday, when you went bowling with your daughter and met a new cute guy, who asked you out, etc. Just tell the worst day.

Edited by broncovet
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bronco those are words of wisdom and I said, 'I'm stressed' when the c&p examiner

asked me how I am.

I don't even wanna think about when I have to ask for an increase and go back to a c&p exam.

I'm service connected at 50% according to the letter that came a few days ago.

It's a coincidence that I had a mental health appt on the same day as receiving the letter.

I took it with me to show the counselor. The VA psychologist looked at the connection letter and also read

the c&p report on his computer. He said the c&p examiner got it wrong under the occupational & social area.

He said she should have checked another box.

So now what do I do? Request another c&p exam?

My attorney hasn't received a copy of the c&p exam or the service connection letter.

All this happened very fast like within a week and a half.

If I get another c&p exam, I will go into detail about my worst days.

Thank you Bronco for reading the message through and commenting. It does seem like maybe I want

an increase and I guess I do...I'd like to get an increase before VA closes my case like they said they are.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator

Most assuredly, if you feel homicidal thoughts toward this guy, then you should tell the doc about it. SI/HI are exclusively in the 70 and 100 percent rating categories, and are indeed a red flag for help.

I have no idea why you are feeling homicidal to this man...perhaps he deserves it, but in that case you have some issues as to why you dont "get out" of that relationship. Sure, it may be for economic reasons, but I it is probably not wise to exchange your safety, or the safety of others for money. You have not done anything where you "deserve" a man who is violent to you. On the other hand, if he is trying and not violent to you, but says things that hurt you, then forgiveness is likely in order. Sometimes I think women have too high of expections in a relationship. They expect men to react the way they would, and we dont. We respond the way men do, and men are not good at relationships! Women have a PHd in them, and men are in kindergarten. We fix cars, fix homes, follow football, etc. etc, and are very handy but expect you to fix relationships. Those things are something you just cant fix, when its broken you go get a new one.

Personally, I would draw the line between "talking" and "doing". In other words, if he said some very hurtful words to you, then you should work on forgiving him. Many people, especially men, make relationship mistakes that hurt their partner. On the other hand, if he gets drunk every day and uses you for a punching bag, then you need to do some serious and quick boogieing. Dont stay under those circumstances.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I apologize for dramatizing.

I'm lying if I say I want to kill the guy who lives with me.

In reality, I just wish he'd move out or get his own place and leave me alone.

It's an economic decision to live together, but he was homeless not me and yes, we do have

some sick dynamics going on.

I'm agoraphobic. He uses my vehicle. He lives in my house. He gets his mail here. He has tantrums.

He stonewalls emotionally. He makes that look on his face when it comes down to who is 'crazy'.

The man has never laid a hand on me.

He gaslights instead.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Peacecindia

Wow is all I can say and great input from bronco as always. My philosophy in life is I love my children but I love me more. I wish not to bury any of them but could kill all of them on a given day. LOL figuratively speaking of course. Loving you is most important because if you don't others will climb on that wagon in a heartbeat. Relationships are what they are at times but if you're giving everything then what kind of relationship is it? One with only you being in it is what I get. I don't know if you're connected with a VetCenter, that would be my suggestion unless your Dr at the VA is advocating an increase. However, at the VetCenter you can get more personalized care and some good information, also more frequent. Take care of yourself and find PEACE.

God Bless

Good Luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My actual Occupational & Social Functioning:

>I did not tell the c&p examiner that I was psycho about my daughter bringing a guy

into my house in the night and I felt the only recourse I had was to remove my daughter's bed from her room and put it behind the garage, because she had the attitude she could do whatever she wants to do...

50 percent evaluation = difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships

>I didn't tell the c&p examiner that I really need sleeping pills, because I live with

a guy I don't like so I go to bed at 4-5 am to avoid him and only go to bed when I can't stay awake.

If you only use the sleeping pills because you " live with

a guy I don't like so I go to bed at 4-5 am to avoid him and only go to bed when I can't stay awake", Then the sleeping pills don't sound like they are RX'd for treatment of your PTSD. Anyway that would be irrelevant as "symptoms controlled by continuous medication" are contained in an evaluation level of 10 percent, for mental health disability's. Also,

"chronic sleep impairment" is addressed at the 30 percent level for mental health disability's.

>I didn't tell the examiner I hate my neighbors for having a rooster that crows when I'm getting ready for bed and about the camp fires the neighbors have when they smoke their weed outside. The smell of skunk and trash smoke comes in my house and it makes me want to cook the rooster and set fire to my neighbors house.

50 percent evaluation = impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships

> I don't answer the phone and make sure the doors are locked and windows are too, I'd say

I'm pretty damn hypervigilant. Hypervigilance exhausts me. The c&p conversation never went here.

Hypervigilance is addressed in the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD - BUT IT IS NOT ADDRESSED in the evaluation criteria for VA disability purposes.

The closest thing to it in the evaluation criteria is "suspiciousness" and this is addressed an evaluation for 30 percent.

>If I told the examiner I feel homicidal when this guy who lives with me sneaks around and puts his arms

around my waist as if we are a happy couple and nothing's wrong...I'd probably get a conditional VA check with a fidiciuary.

100 percent = " persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others" but I do not feel a single entry as you posted would meet this criteria for "persistent danger of hurting self or others".

So, the c&p examiner determined that I'm occupationally and socially impaired at the 50% level. My gaf was 46 I think. My VA therapist disagrees with the c&p examiner's determination. Actually the C&P examiner did not, nor has the authority to determine your evaluation percentage. The C&P examiner's report is factored into the medical evidence of record and the VA decision maker is SUPPOSED to apply the evidence to the rating criteria for said disability. The C&P examiner's do not assign evaluation percentages.

Then get medical documentation that supports a higher evaluation. Other than that it's merely a difference of opinion between your VA therapist and the C&P examiner. Also - what is the pedigree of your VA therapist versus the pedigree of the C&P examiner ? In other words which evidence would trump the other ? I feel that in your best interest it is important to read over - several times the rating criteria between the evaluation levels and get a good understanding of them, before proceeding. The GAF score is not addressed in the evaluation criteria for mental health disability's. I think it's important for you to study and understand more clearly about the different levels of Occupational and Social Impairment, and how your symptomology effects these two issues, keeping in mind that this is mostly subjective evidence and the underlined sections below. 100 percent =

Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: 70 percent = Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as: 50 percent =

Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: Just study the criteria a bit more and I think it will help you understand what and how symptomology is applied to the evaluation levels.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=360712cedff9c9b61232333266bbd33d&rgn=div8&view=text&node=38:1.0.1.1.5.2.111.73&idno=38 I hope this is helpful and absolutely no offense is meant, just trying to help out as to what I see as the difficulties to overcome. carlie

It's hard to try to be sane and not seem too suicidal or too homicidal and still avoid someone mistaking you as a troublemaker or a faker at a c&p exam.

Now comes the hard part of knowing what to do next...how is my lawyer going to handle my VA therapist

saying that the c&p examiner got it wrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use