ptsd Completely Flabbergasted: Advice Desperately Sought

[2E151]

As some of you who follow the PTSD forum know, I've been slowly building a fully developed claim based on my VA Diagnosis of PTSD with GAD and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia along with an assortment of secondary conditions (constant stomach cramps, and weekly bouts of diarrhea and constipation), perpetual fatigue, severe erectile dysfunction, excruciating headaches, severe teeth grinding and constant body aches. I've been in the VA medical and mental health clinic since February of last year.

Today I received a brown envelop from the VA stating that they are working on my claim for post-traumatic stress disorder… I’m completely and utterly flabbergasted because I never filed, and had no intentions of filing until next year.

Basically I have acouple of questions:

1. It states on the first page “we are working on your claim for: post traumatic stress disorder” can I still claim my secondary conditions, and will they consider the GAD and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia as exacerbating my PTSD (clearly states in my VA diagnosis that I have PTSD, GAD and PD with Agoraphobia.)

1. What’s the time frame on getting them all the evidence? The VCAA notice (Dated March 5th) says I have one year from the date filed to provide all the evidence to support my claim, but Ebenefits says I have until 04/04/2013 to provide it. There is no way I can provide all the evidence by April 4th, and a premature decision at this point would mean an instant denial. This is absolutely essential because I’m planning on seeing a host of outside specialists about my secondary conditions, and that’s going to take months if not the entire year. (The VCAA notice is so confusing, it seems to contridect itself)

At this point I’m in full freak-out mode, and don’t know how to continue, this caught me completely off guard. I wasn’t planning on filing until next year after I got all my ducks in a row for a fully developed claim.

[carlie]

2E151,

Please check your email.

Thanks,

carlie

[Philip Rogers]

Please post a link to the PTSD forum you mention. I used to be involved w/one but that was about 6-8 yrs ago. Thanks!

pr

As some of you who follow the PTSD forum know, I've been slowly building a fully developed claim based on my VA Diagnosis of PTSD with GAD and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia along with an assortment of secondary conditions (constant stomach cramps, and weekly bouts of diarrhea and constipation), perpetual fatigue, severe erectile dysfunction, excruciating headaches, severe teeth grinding and constant body aches. I've been in the VA medical and mental health clinic since February of last year.

Today I received a brown envelop from the VA stating that they are working on my claim for post-traumatic stress disorder… I’m completely and utterly flabbergasted because I never filed, and had no intentions of filing until next year.

Basically I have acouple of questions:

1. It states on the first page “we are working on your claim for: post traumatic stress disorder” can I still claim my secondary conditions, and will they consider the GAD and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia as exacerbating my PTSD (clearly states in my VA diagnosis that I have PTSD, GAD and PD with Agoraphobia.)

1. What’s the time frame on getting them all the evidence? The VCAA notice (Dated March 5th) says I have one year from the date filed to provide all the evidence to support my claim, but Ebenefits says I have until 04/04/2013 to provide it. There is no way I can provide all the evidence by April 4th, and a premature decision at this point would mean an instant denial. This is absolutely essential because I’m planning on seeing a host of outside specialists about my secondary conditions, and that’s going to take months if not the entire year. (The VCAA notice is so confusing, it seems to contridect itself)

At this point I’m in full freak-out mode, and don’t know how to continue, this caught me completely off guard. I wasn’t planning on filing until next year after I got all my ducks in a row for a fully developed claim.

[carlie]

One of my primary concerns is that the condition listed is solely post-traumatic stress disorder. I’ve also got GAD, Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, along with a whole slew of secondary conditions, and some GWI presumptives. Don't you think it would be quite the strech to piggy back all of that off of a PTSD claim?

Mental health only gets ONE evaluation for percentage level.

You can have 5 different MH diagnosis and all can be SC'd

but VA provides one evaluation for MH - not one for each separate diagnosis.

Waiting a year to file the claim is costing YOU money.

JMHO

[2E151]

Mental health only gets ONE evaluation for percentage level.

You can have 5 different MH diagnosis and all can be SC'd

but VA provides one evaluation for MH - not one for each separate diagnosis.

Waiting a year to file the claim is costing YOU money.

JMHO

Yeah, I know about the one mental health evaluation. As I understand it, they'll pick my most severe issue, evalulate me on that, and the rater will consider the two lesser issues along with the primary condition to determine an overall rating.

If I get an extension and keep my effective date, it really won't be costing me money. Where as if I submit a scrambled together claim, that could potentially cost me a great deal of money and time.

Please post a link to the PTSD forum you mention. I used to be involved w/one but that was about 6-8 yrs ago. Thanks!

pr

PR, I used to hit up acouple of forums, but the only ones I really utilize on a regular basis is this one and the PEB forum. Too many logins and passwords to keep track of. The basic gist is I was hoping to file a fully developed claim for PTSD, the secondary conditions from PTSD, and some presumptives conditions under the Gulf War Illnesses all in one fell swoop. Whoever initated this claim didn't have the whole picture, so it must have been someone in mental health clinic.

I'm still trying to contact battle buddies for statements, get a private examination for PTSD, try and figure out how to get a GWI exam, and see some private specalists for my secondary conditions. For someone with severe anxiety, 60 days isn't nearly enough time to get everything together.

[Berta]

PR, I think this vet means the PTSD forum here and our GWI forum.here too

[deanbrt]

An appeal will let you introduce new evidence and preserve your EED date now that a claim is established. My own personal feeling, from experience, is that the likely win will occur at BVA, not the VARO.