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]

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.

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.

What extension are you referring to ?

What secondary conditions from PTSD ?

Thanks

[Berta]

I am concerned about that too Carlie and this.....

"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.) "

"get a private examination for PTSD,"

Why would you need that?

Any PTSD claim that falls under the new PTSD criteria, requires a PTSD diagnosis from a VA MH provider.

If you have that diagnosis from the VA, then why seek a private shrink?

The new PTSD regs, that many of us fought over with VA, when they published the proposed version for comments, do not allow even Sigmund Freud himself to diagnose a vet with PTSD.

VA wont buy anything from a private shrink ,as far as a PTSD diagnosis goes, for claims filed under the new regulations.

What was your MOS and how did that put you into or near hostile activity,in such a way that it created a fearful environment for you (enough to cause PTSD)?

I am parsing the regulations here..and should do that, they were all posted here in entirety yesterday.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Berta

[Capt.]

Hello ,,,this post is kinda getting confusing , but thats how nearly every Veteran first starts his or hers

claim.

2E151, please remember to try and keep some continuity and shortness to your claim. I know your working on some other secondary parts but it appears that sometime in the past, as pointed out above by our members , you may have contacted Peggy, or sent in an IRIS.

I would like to point out that the VA system now will show nearly any correspondance with them,,,,,,,AS A CLAIM.

Case in point ,,,,,please check your Ebenefits as mine has other issues of contact listed as pending claims or date claim received when there is no claim offered.

No, I do not like it either and it just means long waits. Yes the Fully Developed Claims are seemingly to get faster response to our Veterans but some of that is also coming up with wrong decisions.

I agree with Carlie , Megh, Berta , Deanbrt, Mags......PROTECT THIS STARTING DATE ....do not take off and refile. Wait for the decision and appeal when it is time and you are ready to introduce more COMPELLING and PROBATIVE evidence.Also if you look at most of the success stories, they involve the appeals process and not as many in the initial decision from VAROs. The OIG reports on errors rates are appalling at the stage you are at.

Most of us here at Hadit....will testify that if we all were to really look back on our initial filing of claims we would LOVE to go back and change the WAY we did it. Why heck........ I would have loved to changed my letter to Regional Office telling them how stupid they were..... like telling them they could not read .....is everyone there ignorant ,,,,,can anyone in their office pass a literacy test....are all of you that stupid..... and "I am going to keep treating you like this until someone proves me wrong....and so far noone has"..... statements. Though funny at the time and probably true,,,,, I would have probably liked to have changed it,,,,,even though , deep down , I do feel better , but it probably did not help me but caused some types of retaliation , which happens all the time. All it did was get everyone upset at Regional Office and I got phone calls from Washington VA deputy directors asking whats wrong and please let us assign someone here in Washington to help you. Which made me feel better but in actuality did nothing for my claims.

I mean its best to have enough eyes on your claim here and let some of our folks look at what your doing and proposing to do with your claims , so that you don't make the mistakes .......................THAT nearly all of us have made in the past. It is even more important now than 5 -10 years ago because ...not only the backlog ,,,but going to this new paperless system , which is not proven in any arena of the claims process....YET. There are some PTSD folks specialist here. Try and let them help you so that you don't convalute and really slow the decision and accuracy of your claim down.

I think having your starting point definitely saved you money and now the clock is ticking. You have a lot of good advice from what I can read and hopefully it will serve your claim well. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Capt.Contaminate

[2E151]

VA wont buy anything from a private shrink ,as far as a PTSD diagnosis goes, for claims filed under the new regulations.

I didn't know that. My biggest question is, how do I get my stressor verified by the VA? I've got a dianosis for PTSD, GAD, Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, but I haven't seen anything in my VA medical records about my stressor

There are some PTSD folks specialist here. Try and let them help you so that you don't convalute and really slow the decision and accuracy of your claim down.

All I have is my VA medical records, and I think my psychiatrist is more focused on treating me right now than filling out a DBQ. Which I'm all for, that’s her job, but since I started last February she’s tried me on Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil, and Effexor, with absolutely zero effect. I’ve also been through Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, and for the last 6 months I’ve been on 240 1mg pills of Xanax a month. The Xanax is the only thing that keeps me employed.

What was your MOS and how did that put you into or near hostile activity,in such a way that it created a fearful environment for you (enough to cause PTSD)?

2E151 was acutally my MOS at the time, its changed to something similar since 2009. I provide(ed) tactical communications to infantry units. I was in Mosul, Iraq in 2009 supporting a joint SF unit at the height of the surge. It wasn't pretty, in fact it was hell on earth. If you go through google and look at some of the archived news articles from early 2009 through the summer of 2009 in Mosul you'll see what I mean.

IMO there is a lot of stigma associated with communications guys who have been diagnosed with MH issues, especially from veterans who did their time between the 80s and 90s. At my civilian job I work with a bunch of veterans that fall in that range and I don't talk about my problems because of that. There are acouple of us younger guys who have MH issues, but we keep it to ourselves. My boss knows, but my co-workers think I'm just a flake.

These guys remember when the only commo guys who deployed forward were radio guys who called in medivacs or close air support. These days we carry suitcase kits that provide internet, telephones and live feeds from drones forward. Because of the nature of our customers and the importance of their mission in 2009 a lot of us were thrown into roles beyond our skillset or training, but we had to make due.

In many ways I feel lucky, I never had to fire my rifle, never got a TBI.

I came back from that mission with a Joint Commendation Medal, an extra stripe, and a lifetime of memories I can't escape. The last lines in my wife's statement is the man she married never came back from Mosul, just the man she loved. I cry everytime I read that.

PROTECT THIS STARTING DATE

I agree, I won't withdraw it.

What secondary conditions from PTSD?

Severe ED, teeth grinding, constant stomach cramps with debilitating weekly episodes of diarrhea and constipation (I’m 28 and can’t remember when I last wore anything but adult diapers),

Edited March 12, 2013 by 2E151

[Berta]

“2E151 was acutally my MOS at the time, its changed to something similar since 2009. I provide(ed) tactical communications to infantry units. I was in Mosul, Iraq in 2009 supporting a joint SF unit at the height of the surge. It wasn't pretty, in fact it was hell on earth “

I am certainly sure that it was Hell.

Here is the SOC Command History and that might help you, unless your orders and 201 file clearly shows you were in support of the SOC , Mogul Iraq 2009.

:http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2007/04/special_operations_command_a_t.html

You can get your SMRs and Personnel (201 file) records here:

http://www.archives.gov/

Just click on the Veterans Records Box up top.

If you tell me the exact designation of your Unit in 2009 in Iraq I might find more info you can use.

I am a tactical warfare student and have lots of stuff on my PC for Unit and Command histories.

I don't doubt you at all as to this stressor.....I do doubt VA will get it right.

With enough details the Joint Services RecordsResearch Center might be able to help you as well, just in case the VA says they cannot confirm your stressor:

All Branches except for Marine Corps-

US Army and Joint Services Records Research Center
7701 Telegraph Rd,Kingman Building Room 2CO8
Alexandria VA. 22315-3802

1-703-428-6801

Marines-

Go to the Marine Corps University Archive Site http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/MCRCweb/Archive/

Or contact to the Commandant of the Marine Corps
Headquarters USMC Quantico toll free 1-800-268-3710
Fax 11-703-784-5792

Also , in essense nothing is a secondary to a SC until the prime SC disability is awarded. The TMJ you have , as well as the other problems, by medicl evidence, can be associated as secondary to the PTSD when that is established.

You can claim them all at one time but it sound like VA only is concerned with the PTSD at this time.

[2E151]

Here is the SOC Command History and that might help you, unless your orders and 201 file clearly shows you were in support of the SOC , Mosul Iraq 2009.

Yeah, my orders state "classified location, Mosul, Iraq".

If you tell me the exact designation of your Unit in 2009 in Iraq I might find more info you can use.

I was with the Joint Communications Support Element. I don't seem to be able to PM you, if I could provide a bit more information

Edited March 12, 2013 by 2E151