ptsd New Member Ptsd Claim Help Advice

[seahawkfan]

Hello vets, I am a discharged US Marine who served in OIF as an infantryman during the invasion. I discharged shortly after returning home. PTSD was never something that gave us any information about in 03. I have lived with ptsd for many years not really knowing what was wrong with me but figured it was just something I had to live with from my combat experiences. I self medicated for years with Alchohol to deal with the stress, anxiety and sleep problems. My wife in the last year has been at the end of her rope with my drinking. I have been dry for a year but its been a hard year dealing with ptsd without my main coping tool (alchohol). I have seek counseling which I have started as well as being medicated for nightmares and anxiety from a private doctor. I live in a very rural area in Forks WA which makes it hard and expensive to travel to any VSO Facility for help processing a claim. My question is is it strongly suggested to get the help of a VSO or is it acheivable to file a claim through ebenefits by myself with the help of information from this site. Thanks for any advice I can get from you vets.

[meghp0405]

Do you have a diagnosis of PTSD yet?

And yes, it is very "doable" to do a claim on your own. In fact, if you use a VSO, you need to do all the leg work, follow up to make sure they have done their part, and double check any advice they give you. So they are often just an additional aggravation.

There are some good ones out there. But... even the good ones are so dang busy they don't have a lot of time to spend on each claim.

you have (according to your information) no disability, but yet you provide information on VSO's as an additional aggravation? How did you come to that conclusion? Myself, I stay extremely busy, but when that veteran comes into my office, I spend every minute that he/she needs to complete their claim. it may be 15 minutes or 4 hours, but during that time frame, no answering of phones, or answering of the door. The vet has my undivided attention. That's just my policy and those that come to see me are made aware of that. So far (after 7 1/2 years) I have had very few complaints and those that did were vets that didn't believe that they had to follow the same procedures as everyone else.

[free_spirit_etc]

I have no disability and I am not a veteran. I am a veteran's widow. I came to the conclusion that VSOs are often (not always) an additional aggravation based on my own experience with my VSO and frustrations other vets have reported concerning their VSOs.

It is admirable that you invest so much time in filing the veterans' claims. Not all VSOs do so. Perhaps you even have the time to go over every record and every decision with a fine-tooth comb. Not every VSO does so. Based on the threads I have read here of people realizing they were totally screwed over on previous claims when they finally read through their records (despite the fact that they had VSOs), I would say that completely relying on a VSO, instead of keeping on top of your own claim, is not always a wise decision.

It is great that you have had few complaints in your 7 1/2 years as a VSO. As I stated, there are some good VSOs out there. But based on the complaints about VSOs I have read on hadit and other forums, I would still say that there are some not so good ones out there. And I don't believe that all of the complaints I have read are from people who think they don't have to follow the same procedures as everyone else. Nor do I believe that I don't have to follow the same procedures as everybody else.

And yes, some some VSOs are even an additional aggravation.

Free - not disabled, but the widow of a veteran who was disabled (to the point he is now dead) who thinks that entitles her to have an opinion (just like everybody else).

you have (according to your information) no disability, but yet you provide information on VSO's as an additional aggravation? How did you come to that conclusion? Myself, I stay extremely busy, but when that veteran comes into my office, I spend every minute that he/she needs to complete their claim. it may be 15 minutes or 4 hours, but during that time frame, no answering of phones, or answering of the door. The vet has my undivided attention. That's just my policy and those that come to see me are made aware of that. So far (after 7 1/2 years) I have had very few complaints and those that did were vets that didn't believe that they had to follow the same procedures as everyone else.

Edited October 10, 2013 by free_spirit_etc

[Berta]

“Funny Guys lol. Free spirit I do not have a formal diagnosis of ptsd yet. I am seeing a counselor and my personal doctor is medicating me for it. Do I need to go to a private phychologist or a VA phychologist for that. Im very new to this I did not even know about ptsd compensation untill my counselor strongly urged me to apply. Any and all help or advice would be much appreciated. “

We have the new PTSD criteria here in our PTSDS forum under New PTSD regs.

As others said you will need a PTSD diagnosis from a MH doctor. I am sure the VA will concede your stressor, as per the regs. The VA C & P doc will most probably concede it in the PTSD exam narrative.

More humor:

Hey you guys......I am a pissant civilian who spent 4 years under the auspices of the USMC at AMU and it turned me into a warrior when it comes to battling with VA.

(warrior????..

well actually I became a real m----r f-----g SOB on the paper VA battlefield. Hoorahhhhh)

Semper Fi seahawkfan and welcome to the best place in town.

[john999]

A Marine or Army Airborne would be in real trouble if they took on Berta when she is fired up! Seahawkfan you need the diagnosis of PTSD from VA mental health. Is there a vet center close to you? You get the PTSD DX and I think you will get a SC rating.

[seahawkfan]

Do I need to see a VA mental health doctor for a diagnosis prior to filing a claim or do they give you a diagnosis during the C&P exam.